New Zealand to ban cigarettes for future generations

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BBC

Interesting. It is a shame that an outright ban couldn't be done here in the UK.

Radical, but interesting.

I hope that the US tobacco industry doesnt get angry, and pressure congress to enact tarriffs on New Zealand products. Lol!

There will be a BIG black market in tobacco products in New Zealand. You can count on that!

Whether this will result in what occurred during US Prohibition----remains to be seen.

Maybe some American can anchor a cruise ship just outside of the New Zealand three mile territorial waters limit with a nightclub that offers cigarettes for sale, and rake in the money. Like they did with booze in the US during Prohibition.

Definitely not out of the question.....

It's not like prohibition where you're taking something away that people are used to having. People who have always smoked will be able to do so until they croak.

So it'll be about 1.5million young people affected. Very few of them would have started smoking anyway - less than 10% (if average smoking rates continue to fall at current rates), even fewer would be prepared to break the law to do so, I'd guess. Any black market is going to struggle with those figures. US tobacco industry wouldn't notice the loss.

Tobacco is grown in NZ though so you wouldn't necessarily have to import it, I'm sure some will find its way into the hands of people it shouldn't.

But generally I reckon this is a very low risk policy for NZ, as extraordinary as it sounds to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.

Yes. Its not quite the same as US Prohibition.

The grownups who are already hooked on tobacco will still be able to buy cigarettes.

The idea is that if you're 13 years old today, or younger, you will never partake of tobacco, even when you do get to be "drinking age" so to speak.

NZ is our neighbour and they elected an incredibly insightful and caring prime minister Jacinta Arden.

Her decision to ban cigarrettes is in keeping with her stance on public health and the environment.

We only wish we had a prime minister like that.

I'm not a person who is too thrilled with cigarettes. I hate the smell of tobacco....and I hate the smell of marijuana, too.

I never said there would "definitely" be a Prohibition-type situation. But there is certainly potential for a black market in tobacco.

I do think New Zealand is doing the right thing.

Personally I'm pretty skeptical of prohibition working out well, but we'll see.

We shall see....I didn't say they will definitely be a "black market"---but I'm wagering that there will be.

My mom, my NT sister, and I do not consume tobacco products because the two male relatives who sometimes visit out of the blue enjoy consumption of tobacco. In fact, they sometimes smell like cigarette smoke whenever they visit.

If other countries have problems with high numbers of tobacco consumption, then IMO such countries should take notice of this move from New Zealand.

IMO, it would not be surprising if something like US Prohibition begins soon in New Zealand.