New Zealand's new PM to scrap 'generational smoking ban'

New Zealand's new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday announced that his government would scrap new anti-smoking laws before they came into effect.

The so-called "general smoking ban," prohibiting future sales of cigarettes to anyone born after 2008, was unveiled by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Luxon confirmed the decision ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, citing fears that the ban would fuel a flourishing black market.

New Zealand passed legislation for the pioneering ban, which would have introduced a steadily rising minimum age for smoking, in 2022.

The former Labour government said the measure would save lives and billions of dollars spent on smoking-related illnesses by the country's healthcare system.

Other measures were also included, such as dramatically reducing the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products.

The law would also have limited tobacco sales to designated stores, with the number of approved outlets slashed from 6,000 to just 600 nationwide.

The measures had not been due to be implemented until July 2024.

Luxon's National Party agreed to repeal large tracts of the law as part of its coalition agreement with populist New Zealand First.

The chopped amendments include the generational ban, nicotine level curbs and the reduction in sales outlets.

Luxon said the prohibition would have created "an opportunity for a black market to emerge, which would be largely untaxed."