NEW Zealand’s smoking ban is being stubbed out by officials in a dramatic U-turn.
The country was the first in the world to bar young people from buying cigarettes in a scheme to eventually make the whole nation smoke-free.
GettyNew Zealand’s smoking ban is being repealed by officials. Stock pic[/caption]
GettyThe policy had been brought in by former PM Jacinda Ardern[/caption]
It was passed under former prime minister Jacinda Ardern and was due to come into effect from July.
But the new coalition government led by Christopher Luxon has confirmed the ban will be repealed.
Officials are set to put the U-turn before parliament urgently to allow them to ditch the law without public comment.
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said: “The coalition government is committed to the Smokefree 2025 goal, but we are taking a different regulatory approach to reducing smoking rates and the harm from smoking.
“I will soon be taking a package of measures to cabinet to increase the tools available to help people quit smoking.”
The ban rubber-stamped by Ardern’s government was the first of its kind in the world.
What was New Zealand’s plan?
NEW Zealand was set to become the first country in the world to stop young people from buying cigarettes.
It would have eventually made the whole country smoke-free.
Under plans, youngsters aged 14 and under in 2027 would never have been allowed to purchase cigarettes in their lifetime.
The age limit was set to increase each year from then on until smoking became illegal for the country’s five million-strong population.
Former PM Jacinda Ardern’s health chiefs drew up the radical laws in a bid to draw a line under the fag health menace linked to cancer and heart disease.
New Zealand also planned to reduce the number of establishments selling cigarettes from around 8,000 to 500.
It inspired other government to mull similar options – including the UK.
PM Rishi Sunak last year announced his plan to make Britain smoke-free by 2030.
It means kids currently under 14 will never be able to legally buy cigarettes.
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has laid out 12 steps to help the government achieve this target.
These steps include reducing the appeal and availability of cigarettes to children, raising the age of buying cigarettes from 18 to 21, and regularly updating the Smoke-free 2030 strategy.
Some countries have already banned smoking outside cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants, including New Zealand.
In his speech at the 2023 Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to “put the next generation first” as he announced intentions to ban youngsters from smoking altogether.
The PM said smoking costs the country an eye-watering £17bn a year.
He said his decision “will save more lives” than any other the Conservative Party could make.
And he pledged to make it more difficult for children to get their hands on vapes.