Breaking News English

New Zealand's [new / newly] conservative government has [abandoned / absconded] a groundbreaking plan to ban smoking in the country. Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce legislation to [pass / phase] out the sale of cigarettes. Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking by [preventing / prevention] new generations of young adults from [purchased / purchasing] cigarettes. The policy was [hailed / foiled] around the world as a [bold / bald] move to improve the health of the nation. However, the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has controversially done a U-turn and [junking / junked] Ms Ardern's plans. He said the ban was [affordable / unaffordable] and that the country needed the tax revenues [from / for] tobacco sales.

The [radical / radial] smoking ban was a landmark decision that [prompting / prompted] other countries to reconsider their public [health / healthy] policies. The British government followed suit by announcing laws that will make it illegal for [young’uns / youngsters] to buy cigarettes over the [coming / going] years. A spokesperson said the UK wants "to deliver smoke-free generations". Canada has [recent / recently] become the first country to require health warnings be put on [individual / individually] cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are up in [arms / legs] over Mr Luxon's about-turn. One group said: "Turning the [wave / tide] on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by [individualistic / individuals] or even communities. It takes good and brave population-level policies."