It would be “absurd” for Ireland to copy New Zealand and ban young people buying cigarettes, a smokers’ rights organisation has said. 

Earlier this week, Wellington passed radical legislation that will see the age limit for buying tobacco products gradually rise over time.  

It means that 14-year-olds in New Zealand will never be allowed to legally buy cigarettes in their own country and the aim is to ultimately make the nation “smoke-free”. 

“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives,” Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said. 

“And the health system will be $5bn better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking - such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations.”

'Absurd'

For John Mallon of the organisation Forest, which campaigns on behalf of smokers, it is an affront to young Kiwis’ freedom of choice.  

“I think it’s absurd,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“What this means today is that [14]-year-olds in New Zealand won’t be allowed to buy cigarettes. 

“Well, I would think that law is already in place for them. 

“Banning adults from buying tobacco - banning anyone from buying tobacco - just drives demand into the hands of the illicit trade. 

“The illicit trade will happily sell tobacco in units of 200 - so you can smoke much more - and you’ll get it at half price. 

“It seems silly that you would drive it in that direction.” 

JTCK55 An elderly holidaymaker smoking a cigarette and relaxing at Portreath in Cornwall.

By contrast, Paediatric Respiratory Medicine Consultant Dr Des Cox, praised the decision as a “very brave measure” that Ireland should consider. 

“Certainly, tobacco kills one in two users,” he said. 

“So, anything that decreases the rate of tobacco usage in Ireland is very much welcome.” 

Over 21s?

Raising the tobacco age to 21 has the support of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. 

The college noted in a report published in September that the number of smokers in Hawaii and California dropped after the age to buy tobacco products was raised. 

Monthly smoking rates plummeted by 18% and 13% respectively - a figure that the reports’ authors said would help Ireland reach its target of reducing the number of smokers to 5% of the population by 2025.

Main image: Young woman smoking. Picture by: Alamy.com