New Zealand bans the sale of cigarettes to all children born from 2009 onwards / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

December 14, 2022 7:19am CST

The photo doesn’t have anything to do with the post. It’s of a very bedraggled New Holland honey-eater. He’s fresh from his bath. A recent news report states that New Zealand (NZ) has passed a law placing a ban on selling cigarettes to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. What this means is that the minimum age to buy cigarettes will keep going up and up. The authorities hope to have NZ smoke-free by 2025. The number of retailers permitted to sell tobacco will fall from around 6,000 to 600 and the amount of nicotine allowed in tobacco will be reduced. Billions of dollars are expected to be saved in medical interventions as the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, amputations and some cancers should drop dramatically. I wonder what you think of these changes? They seem very strict to me and I can’t help wondering what unexpected outcomes there might be. Banning something often only increases the urge to have access to it.

23 people like this

15 responses

Anna

@LadyDuck (459324)

• Switzerland

14 Dec 22

While I think that governments should find a way to restrict smoking (I would limit smoking ONLY inside your home and with the windows closed), I think that totally banning smoking can have side effects.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (459324)

• Switzerland

15 Dec 22

@JudyEv This is a good thing, those who start very young cannot stop aging.

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Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (49132)

• United States

15 Dec 22

I like your way of thinking @LadyDuck

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Dec 22

You can still smoke but they're trying to stop kids from taking it up.

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rebelann1949

@rebelann (111263)

• El Paso, Texas

14 Dec 22

I like the idea especially the part where they want to reduce nicotine ..... I have to wonder why even have nicotine in them to begin with. I don't know any one who smokes anymore.

2 people like this

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rebelann1949

@rebelann (111263)

• El Paso, Texas

19 Dec 22

Exactly. I think that too many people who used to smoke had issues like COPD or cancer later in life. I smoked for 20 years back when I was in my 20s and 30s and now I have recurring coughs that nag me during the colder seasons.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

It's certainly become a much less fashionable vice than it used to be.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

@rebelann It's strange now to watch old films and see everyone smoking. I'm sorry you now have a lingering cough.

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Juliaacv

@Juliaacv (48577)

• Canada

15 Dec 22

I think that it is admirable to want to ban on smoking but I have to wonder if preventing the sale of them won't lead to theft or trafficking of them. I am sure that they are aware of that possibility.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

It could certainly lead to black market sales but perhaps over time less people would have taken up the habit.

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Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (95779)

• Marion, Ohio

14 Dec 22

That wont make them smoke free by 2025 as you are saying 14 year olds can buy them.

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Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (95779)

• Marion, Ohio

19 Dec 22

@JudyEv Thats what I was hoping

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Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (12633)

• Ireland

14 Dec 22

@JudyEv It can be a fine line between paternalism and good policy.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Dec 22

It seems a huge imposition really. But at least they're only stopping kids starting - or that's the intent.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (307251)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

14 Dec 22

There are a lot of people who say they want to quit. Now, they won't have an excuse not to. I know people will rebel against the idea. In the end, I hope they see it as a good thing.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (307251)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

20 Dec 22

@JudyEv Yes, it would.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

Over time, it would save a small fortune in medical fees.

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babytaffster

@babytaffster (2232)

• Chatsworth, California

15 Jan 23

2009? That’s 13 years ago. Do 13 year olds get to smoke there? That is really pretty young and stuff. Not a very good idea to me but I guess people think differently in other places. I mean, obviously they do, we don’t all think the same. But 13 is still a kid.

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Four Walls

@FourWalls (62474)

• United States

14 Dec 22

I think that’ll backfire much like Prohibition did here in the United States. You’ll have mobsters opening a black market to sell them, meaning the government doesn’t get the tax benefit.

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Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (49132)

• United States

15 Dec 22

I wish that we could live in a smoke free world. Unfortunately that will never happen.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

It's a risky step for the government I think but hopefully they'll pull it off.

Jessica

@JESSY3236 (18953)

• United States

14 Dec 22

cute bird. I think it's good thing. But yeah banning anything makes it more popular.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

Maybe over time, people will come to accept that it's not okay to smoke.

Ron Rybs

@Ronrybs (17848)

• London, England

14 Dec 22

Being a non-smoker I am not too worried. I seem to recall talk here of banning sales to anyone born in 2008. Not entirely sure I am remembering that right

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

It doesn't worry us either but it would be a good thing if it works.

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Dr Souvik Chatterji

@sathviksouvik (17994)

•

19 Dec 22

I dont smoke. But for those who are regular smokers it is an addiction. It is very difficult to stop the habit

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

It is indeed difficult to stop. I think the NZ government hope that this initiative will help stop young people from starting.

Dr Souvik Chatterji

@sathviksouvik (17994)

•

20 Dec 22

@JudyEv thanks Judy yes I agree with you. In India there are posters are stuck at the walls about it to prohibit smoking

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LindaOH

@LindaOHio (157337)

• United States

15 Dec 22

I'm on the fence about this. I can't stand to be around anyone that smokes; but it's like liquor. Those who want to partake will find a way to do it.

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LindaOH

@LindaOHio (157337)

• United States

20 Dec 22

@JudyEv I hope so too.

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Jim Bauer

@porwest (78759)

• United States

14 Dec 22

Freedom is freedom, and being an American I take that very seriously. People should be allowed to do what they want, even if it harms them. As for costs to society? There is no greater cost to society than poverty and so if there is a problem to solve that has the most impact on taxation and health costs—it's taking care of the poor. That being said, poverty is not a money issue. It's an education issue. But unfortunately it BECOMES a money issue when the backs of those who produce have to shell out for those who do not. It seems a silly idea to me and too nanny state oriented to me.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326170)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Dec 22

Fair enough. It's certainly a risky initiative but well and good if it works in my opinion.

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Jim Bauer

@porwest (78759)

• United States

22 Dec 22

@JudyEv Initiatives like this never work. It just creates a mob of illegal activity. Much like our prohibition which created guys like Al Capone.