Denmark today announced a plan for the new generation to never be affected by tobacco, considering banning the sale of nicotine products to anyone born between 2010 and later.
“Our goal is for all those born in 2010 to never start smoking or using nicotine products,” Health Minister Magnus Henike told a news conference.
“If necessary, we are ready to ban sales to this generation by gradually raising the age limit, at which tobacco products can be purchased,” he explained.
Today, the current regulation prohibits Danes under the age of 18 from buying tobacco or smoking an e-cigarette.
However, 31% of the 15-29 age group smoke, the minister stressed, and smoking, the leading cause of cancer in the country, causes 13,600 deaths annually in this state of 5.8 million inhabitants.
According to a poll commissioned by the Danish Cancer Society, 64% of those polled are in favor of the plan. The corresponding percentage in the age group 18-34 years is 67%.
A pioneer in the fight against smoking, New Zealand announced in December that it wanted to phase out the sale of tobacco by increasing, from 2027, the age at which it can be bought.
In Denmark, the Social Democrat government also intends to crack down on alcohol consumption among young people.
Specifically, it will increase the age limit for the purchase of alcoholic beverages to 18 years, compared to 16 years earlier for all beverages containing less than 16.5% alcohol.
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