New Zealand wants to become a smoke-free country and ban the sale of cigarettes to future generations.
Adolescents under the age of 14 when a law called “Smokefree 2025 Action Plan” comes into force will never be able to legally buy tobacco products in the Pacific state, said Deputy Health Minister Ayesha Verrall on Thursday.
The new rules are expected to apply from the end of next year, the New Zealand Herald reported.
"We want to make sure that young people never start smoking, so we're making it illegal to sell smokable tobacco products to teenagers," said Verrall.
According to the plan, smokers will only be able to buy tobacco products with very low nicotine content.
In addition, fewer and fewer shops are to be given permission to sell tobacco products.
"This is a historic day for the health of our people," emphasized Verrall.
Most common preventable cause of death
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in New Zealand, said the politician.
The damage caused by smoking is particularly noticeable among the Maori (the country's indigenous people) and in low-income communities.
Verrall also announced measures to help smokers quit.
"When we stop people from starting smoking and help those who smoke quit, we cover both ends of the spectrum," she said.
Critics have already warned that a ban would fuel illegal trade on the black market.