Denmark on Tuesday unveiled plans to ensure future generations are tobacco-free and is considering banning the sale of cigarettes and other nicotine products to anyone born after 2010.
“We hope that everyone born in 2010 and onwards will never start smoking or using nicotine-based products,” Health Minister Magnus Hunicke told reporters.
“If necessary, we are ready to progressively raise the age limit to ban the sale of (these products) to this generation,” he said.
Danes must be 18 years of age to purchase cigarettes or e-cigarettes.
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 survey conducted by the Danish Cancer Society showed that 64 percent of those surveyed supported the Danish government’s plan and 67 percent of those aged 18-34.
New Zealand 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 youth alcohol consumption. It will increase the legal age from 16 to 18 for the purchase of drinks containing less than 16.5 percent alcohol.
