Smoking has become very common these days. People smoke cigarettes even after knowing the tremendous health hazards which it causes to our body and the damage it does in our lungs and other vital body organs. However, now to a very good news, New Zealand on Tuesday, 13th of December has passed the world's first law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. This law has been made in a bid to completely ban smoking for the next generation and make the country smoke-free by 2025. The number of stores legally permitted to sell cigarettes will be reduced by one tenth, from 6,000 to 600 across the country. The law passed its final stage on Tuesday, 13th of November evening and will go into effect in 2023.

Associate Health Minister of New Zealand Ayesha Verrall stated that thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives, and the health system will not need to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and amputations. The legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products will also be reduced. Tobacco products will also be forced to be sold only through special tobacco stores, rather than corner stores and supermarkets. She also mentioned that there are more regulations in New Zealand on the safety of the sale of a sandwich than on a cigarette. The bill is now set to become law after passing its final stage in Parliament with support from other political parties as well. Although for now, New Zealand has become the only country to take this big step to completely ban smoking, this decision will surely inspire other countries as well.Do you think all the other countries around the world, including India should ban these deadly cigarettes which will not only ensure a better society but also result in less expenditure on the country's health care sector?

Tags

• New Zealand
• First Country
• Ban
• Cigarettes
• Tobac

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