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New Zealand introduced a new law that will make smoking illegal for the next generation.
The law steadily increases the legal age for smoking cigarettes. Kids who are now 14 years old in New Zealand will never be allowed to buy cigarettes.
Ayesha Verrall, a health minister in New Zealand, says that the law will help people live healthier lives, live longer and save the healthcare system $5bn. He says that smoking causes many medical problems like cancer and heart attacks.
It seems that New Zealand is the first country in the world to make such a law. Along with the age law, there will be other measures to change people’s smoking habits. Cigarettes will only be available at tobacco shops and not supermarkets, there will be less nicotine in tobacco products and smoking will become less affordable.
The number of stores that are allowed to sell cigarettes will go from 6,000 to 600.
The new law will go into effect in 2023. New Zealand wants to be a “smoke-free” country by 2025.
According to Verrall “we [New Zealanders] have more regulations in this country on the safety of the sale of a sandwich than on a cigarette.”
However, the new laws will not affect vaping and vape sales. Some New Zealanders have started vaping instead of smoking cigarettes.
Vocabulary
- Introduce – to start using for the first time; launch
- Law – a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
- Illegal – not allowed by law; forbidden by official rules; unlawful; criminal
- Generation – a group of people born and living around the same time;
- Steadily – in a consistent and controlled way, without sudden changes
- Legal age – the age at which a person is legally allowed to do certain things, such as vote or buy alcohol
- Allow – permit; let; to give permission; OK
- Minister – A government person in charge of a department; government secretary; politician
- Healthcare system – a system for people to get medical help and treatment when they need it; the organization of people, institutions, and resources that deliver healthcare services to people, it usually includes doctors and hospitals
- Cause – make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Cancer – a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body
- Such – of the type previously mentioned; of the kind mentioned or implied; similar to what was said
- Along with – together with; in addition to; at the same time
- Measure(s) – plan; procedure; an action; a step
- Habit – a usual way of behaving; something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way; a thing that you do often and almost without thinking
- Nicotine – a chemical found in tobacco plants that is addictive and can be harmful to health
- Affordable – not expensive; can be bought without too much cost or effort
- Go into effect – to begin or start; to be valid or apply
- According to – as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Regulation – a rule; guideline; law;
- Vape – Vaping is the “smoking” of a vapor created by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette); inhale and exhale vapor containing nicotine and flavoring;
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- The new law in New Zealand will try to make the country “smoke-free” by 2025. What are the possible benefits and drawbacks of this goal?
- The new law will not affect vaping and vape sales. Do you think this is a good decision or a missed opportunity to further discourage smoking? Why?
- The health minister in New Zealand said that there are more regulations on the safety of the sale of a sandwich than on a cigarette. Do you think this is a fair comparison?
Original Story
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
