THE Australian state of Tasmania is considering a ban on cigarette sales to anyone born after the year 2000 in an attempt to create a smoking-free generation.

A week after Australia upheld the world's first plain-packaging laws, Tasmania's upper house unanimously passed a motion to introduce the ban from 2018.

The measure was proposed by Ivan Dean, an independent MP, who said the ban would be easy to enforce because the state already has restrictions on sales of cigarettes to minors.

It would be the world's first such age-based ban and is reportedly also being considered in Singapore and Finland.

Mr Dean, a former police officer and mayor, said the ban would prevent young people "from buying a product that they can't already buy" but that it would not affect adult smokers.

"This would mean that we would have a generation of people not exposed to tobacco products," he said.

"As the generation reaches 18 years, there will be fewer of them smoking and while some of those first turning 18 might smoke, as time goes on fewer and fewer will."

The state government, which will consider whether to back the proposal in the lower house, has indicated its support for the ban.

"Saying that those people who sell cigarettes legally cannot sell cigarettes to a certain age is appropriate," said Michelle O'Byrne, the state's health minister.

The measure follows a decision by the High Court last week to uphold the country's new plain-packaging laws after an appeal by some of the world's biggest tobacco companies, including Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Tobacco and British American Tobacco.

From December 1, cigarettes in Australia will be sold in drab olive packs, with brand logos replaced by large graphic health warnings.

The federal attorney general, Nicola Roxon, said after the court win last week that she did not plan to ban cigarettes.

Tasmania has the country's highest rate of smoking, with one in four young people using tobacco, compared with one in five nationally.

Tobacco

While the proposal was backed yesterday by health advocates and anti-smoking campaigners, retailers warned that it would turn the island into a "nanny state".

"There needs to be awareness and education programmes, rather than throwing the book at youth," said Russell Zimmerman from the Australian Retailers Association.

"It puts you into a nanny state, rather than allowing consumers to make their own, informed decisions."

As the clamour has grown for an outright nationwide ban on cigarette sales, critics have argued that such a step could lead to bans on other products, such as alcohol or fatty foods. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

Irish Independent