Malaysia is considering a ban on smoking and the sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, for people born after 2007, reports Time.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin presented the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill 2022 for a first reading in parliament on 27 July. If passed, the law will prohibit people born on or after 1 Jan 2007 from smoking, purchasing or possessing tobacco products even after they turn 18. Under the proposal, shopkeepers and distributors will be prohibited from selling such products to anyone in this age group.
New Zealand introduced a similar bill on July 27 to outlaw the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2009. Khairy mentioned the move in a tweet referencing his Generational Endgame initiative which focuses on curbing tobacco use, saying: “The Generational Endgame is starting.”
The so-called Generational Endgame campaign aims to build a tobacco-free generation in Malaysia. It will reduce the number of smokers, curb addiction and save lives, Khairy said in another tweet.
The law was initially intended to apply to everyone born after 2005. After consulting with various stakeholder, Khairy decided to add a two-year buffer to allow for an implementation plan, community education and enforcement, according to the report.