The government of New Zealand has announced a reversal of the ban imposed on smoking in the previous administration.
The last legislation would have banned cigarette sales to people born after 2008, gradually minimizing health risks.
The BBC reported that the reversal of the smoking ban is aimed at funding tax cuts.
World’s First Country To Ban Smoking
New Zealand became the first country in the world to legislate and ban the sales of smoking to people born after 2008.
The law was introduced to prevent the new generation born after 2009 from buying cigarettes legally.
With one year to be fully implemented, the ban has been reversed to fund tax cuts, which has been criticized.
Decision Criticized
Health experts in the country criticized the reversal of previous legislation, considering it catastrophic for the population.
“We are appalled and disgusted… this is an incredibly retrograde step on world-leading, absolutely excellent health measures,” tobacco control researcher Prof Richard Edwards told BBC.
