Updated: 30/04/2021 - 10:00 Share this article Last week New Zealand unveiled a raft of policies aimed at creating a ‘smoke-free generation’ and phasing tobacco products out of the country. Among ideas expected to be implemented are an increase in the legal smoking age, a potential ban on sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2004, minimum pricing and vendor restrictions. The announcement was welcomed by campaigners and civil groups for its contribution to reaching New Zealand’s ambition to be smoke free by 2025. But as well as being extremely bad for personal health, cigarettes also impact the health of the planet.