Denmark proposes plans to ban selling cigarettes to people born after 2010
March 16, 2022, 10:16 am

Denmark proposes plans to ban selling cigarettes to people born after 2010

Denmark proposes ban on selling cigarettes to people born after 2010 (File photo: Pixabay)

The Euronews reported, citing the AFP, Denmark has unveiled plans to ban the sale of cigarettes and nicotine products to any citizens born after 2010.

Health Minister Magnus Heunicke told a press conference, the move aims to prevent the next generation of Danes from touching any form of tobacco.

Heunicke said: "If necessary, we are ready to ban sales to this generation [born in 2010] by gradually raising the purchase age limit."

Under current rules, Danish citizens under the age of 18 are banned from buying tobacco or smoking electronic cigarettes.

Heunicke said, but around 31% of people aged between 15 and 29 still smoke.

The Health Minister added that smoking is the leading cause of cancer in the Nordic country, causing 13,600 deaths a year.

Historic center in Copenhagen, Denmark (File photo: Pixabay)

According to a survey commissioned by the Danish Cancer Association, 64% of respondents are in favour of the plan to ban the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2010. Among 18-34-year-olds, 67% of those surveyed were in favour.

In December, New Zealand announced that it would gradually ban the sale of tobacco from 2027 by raising the age at which it can be purchased.

In Denmark, the Social Democrat government also intends to tackle alcohol consumption among young people.

Rising energy costs send food prices skyrocketing in Denmark

Authorities plan to raise the age limit for the purchase of alcoholic beverages from 16 to 18 for all drinks containing less than 16.5% alcohol.

Source: euronews

Volodymyr Zelensky to address Congress as Russian invasion intensifies on Kyiv outskirts Liz Truss doubts Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.