제 15 호 Will There Be a No Smoking Generation?
Kicker: WORLD
Will There Be a No Smoking Generation?
by Ji-Min Baek, Cub-reporter
In order to prevent the next generation from smoking, New Zealand will introduce a so-called ‘no smoking law’ that prohibits people born after 2009 from buying cigarettes even when they become an adult. If the law finally passes the parliament, 51 years later, in 2073, New Zealanders under the age of 65 will not be able to legally purchase cigarettes, making them a non-smoking generation. As such, New Zealand aims to make non-smoking areas throughout New Zealand within the next four years by implementing regulations that make smoking difficult.
Background to New Zealand's Smoke Free Initiation
The smoking rate in New Zealand has decreased every year, falling from 18% in 2008 to 11.6% in 2018. However, Maori and Polynesian residents, who are native New Zealanders, show relatively high smoking rates at 29% and 18%, respectively. It is also well known. Apparently, smoking is one of the big health threats. Various toxic substances and carcinogens in cigarettes enter the lungs through cigarette smoke and damage all cells and organs in our body. In addition, it acts directly on the gums and bronchial tubes, causing chronic inflammation. This smoking poses a huge risk to health. In response, New Zealand's Vice Health Minister Ayesha Verrall pointed out that New Zealand was imposing more restrictions on sandwich sales than tobacco sales. He also explained the purpose of the bill, saying, "Our main purpose of introducing the law is to protect precious people such as the people, families, and local communities."
A Series of Smoke Free Introductions from Other Countries
In the UK, in order to lower the smoking rate, the government is pushing to gradually increase the age of tobacco purchases by one year every year and eventually ban them completely. According to a new policy recommendation report, the age of cigarettes to be purchased is raised by one year every year from the current 18 and finally banned altogether. By 2030, the country plans to reduce the smoking rate to less than 5 percent and make it a non-smoking society.
Malaysia is promoting a bill banning tobacco sales to people born after a certain point in time. The Malaysian government is reviewing the bill to reduce future generations' exposure to smoking as smoking is the main cause of cancer. If passed, all tobacco-related products, including regular cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, will be banned from being sold to people born after 2005.
Similarly, Denmark is considering banning the sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products to anyone born after 2010.
A Voice of Concern
Despite these initiatives, there are concerns that the black market is prevalent and causes illegal transactions. There are also criticisms that it will add to the economic burden of low-income people who smoke.
In addition to banning tobacco purchases for creating a smoking-free society, New Zealand also includes a decrease in nicotine content, a decrease in cigarette retailers, and an expansion of the budget for tobacco addiction services.A professor at the University of Auckland, a public health expert, said, "The government's plan, especially allowing the sale of cigarettes with lower nicotine content, is the first in the world," adding, "It will lead the world in terms of health." Following New Zealand's first effort to create a smoking cessation generation, it is better to pay attention to the global trend at a time when other countries are also participating.
Sources:
https://www.theguru.co.kr/news/article.html?no=38730
https://biz.chosun.com/international/international_general/2022/06/09/7WP2T55WPNEQVDEUTS6H2BUNTA/?utm_source=naver&utm_medium=original&utm_campaign=biz
https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2022072717000004012?did=NA
https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20211209_0001682223&cID=10101&pID=10100
