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New Zealand has abandoned a pioneering plan to ban smoking. Last year, it became the first country to pass laws to phase out the sale of cigarettes. These would have prevented new generations of young adults from buying cigarettes. The policy was seen as a bold move to improve people's health. However, the new prime minister has done a U-turn and junked the plans. He said the ban was unaffordable because the country needed the tax revenues.
The landmark smoking ban prompted other countries to follow suit. The UK is making it illegal for youngsters to buy cigarettes. It wants "to deliver smoke-free generations". Canada is requiring health warnings on individual cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are up in arms over the U-turn. One group said: "Turning the tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society…takes good and brave population-level policies."
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