Denmark has unveiled plans that would ensure that future generations are tobacco-free, and is presently considering banning the sale of cigarettes and other nicotine products to anyone born after 2010.
Speaking on Wednesday, Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said; ‘Our hope is that all people born in 2010 and later will never start smoking or using nicotine-based products’.
‘If necessary, we are ready to ban the sale (of these products) to this generation by progressively raising the age limit,’ he added.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that at the moment, Danes must be 18 years old to buy cigarettes or e-cigarettes.
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According to the health ministry, around 31 percent of 15-to-29-year-olds smoke.
Smoking is the main cause of cancer in the Nordic country of 5.8 million people and is responsible for 13,600 deaths per year.
A poll commissioned by the Danish Cancer Society showed that 64 percent of people surveyed were in favour of the Danish government’s plan, and 67 percent among those aged 18-34.
New Zealand in December announced a pioneering plan to ban the sale of tobacco by progressively raising the age limit as of 2027.
In Denmark, the Social Democratic government said it also plans to address youths’ alcohol consumption.
It will raise the legal age for purchases of drinks containing less than 16.5 percent alcohol from 16 to 18.
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that from a recent research that over 1.1 billion adult smoke tobacco worldwide and at least 367 million persons use smokeless tobacco products. Of this number, eight million die annually through the effect of tobacco of which over six million are by direct use and about 890,000 by exposure to second-hand smoke.
Over 20 billion sticks of cigarettes are consumed annually in Nigeria even as 15.4% of school children ages 13 – 15 years currently use tobacco in the country.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
