New Zealand banned tobacco sale to those born after 2009

New Zealand has decided to fight for improving the quality of its citizens’ life in a non-standard way: a ban on tobacco sales for persons born after 2009 has been introduced, Lenta.ru reports

Ayesha Verrall, the Associate Minister of Health, noted that such measures will enable New Zealand to save $5bn due to the absence of the need to treat smoking-related diseases: cancer, strokes, heart attacks, and others. "Thousands of people will live a longer and healthier life," she stressed.

Measures are also being introduced that are aimed at reducing tobacco consumption in the country: i.e. the number of retailers who sell the relevant products will be cut by 90 percent, and nicotine content will be reduced in tobacco products.

Law violators will have to pay a fine of up to $96,000.