Tasmania Aspires for "Tobacco-Free" Generation

The end of smoking for a generation? [Source: The Guardian]

As part of the 2000 Smoke-Free Generation initiative, the Tasmanian government may be phasing out tobacco sales to young adults. The plan is to completely ban tobacco sales to anyone born after the year 2000 by raising the legal age of buying cigarettes each year. This initiative is supported by Tasmania’s independent upper house and the Legislative Council.

The first vote will be this coming Tuesday (March 24, 2015) and will likely pass the upper house. However, whether the lower house will pass it is unclear. Unsurprisingly, Imperial Tobacco Australia, which represents Australia’s tobacco industry, has been pushing against this legislation. The group argues that the prohibition is impractical and will only harm Tasmanian retailers, since the demand will shift to where the supply is at — the internet and the black market. However, other groups, such as the Australian Medical Association, see this bill as chance to “change social norms."

Nearly one third of Tasmanian young adults (ages 18-24) smoke. Reducing the prevalence of tobacco smoking would make a significant impact on public health. In 2011, the Australian federal government introduced plain packaged cigarettes to reduce smoking. If this bill passes in Tasmania, it will be the first place in the world to limit access to tobacco to certain generations — and a huge first step for ending smoking.

References

1. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/11/20/tasmanian-tobacco-bill-ban-smoking-youth
2. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/campaign-hopes-tasmanian-tobacco-free-generation-law-215705975.html#oUgIsu1