The Australian state of Tasmania is considering a ban on cigarette sales to anyone born after the year 2000 in a bid to create a “tobacco-free generation”.

The ban would take effect once those people turned 18, when the lawful age for purchasing cigarettes would be raised each year. The result would be a generation never able to legally buy tobacco.

The motion, moved by independent MP Ivan Dean was unanimously approved by the state’s upper house, the Legislative Council last week.
“It would be easier for retailers to enforce because when they ask for ID, all they would need to see is if the person was born after the year 2000,” Dean told the Australian press.

“It would occur over a long period of time and it would only impact on those who can’t already access tobacco products,” he added.

Tasmanian health minister Michelle O’Byrne said the idea of a smoke-free generation was worth “serious consideration” and that the commissioner for children would conduct an analysis of it.

“I think an arbitrary ban on smoking would be very difficult to police,” she said. “However, saying that those people who sell cigarettes legally cannot sell cigarettes to a certain age is appropriate. We do it now.”