Norway doctors want ban on tobacco sales
NTB/The Local - [email protected]
Published: 4 Jan, 2016 CET.
Updated: Mon 4 Jan 2016 08:49 CET
The Norwegian Medical Association (Legeforeningen - NMA) wants a smoke-free society by 2035 and has proposed a ban on the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2000 as a first step.
NMA president Marit Hermansen told Aftenposten that it is not a basic human right to begin using tobacco.
“We have long had the policy of phasing out smoking by 2035. This is a measure to achieve this goal. We want a tobacco-free generation,” Hermansen said.
“It shouldn’t be forbidden to smoke, but we want young people to not get started with tobacco,” she added.
Hermansen said that she believes it is possible to get political backing for NMA’s proposal.
“The [health] minister has said that the main objective is to hinder young people from beginning to smoke. That means that when the new generations come of age, they won’t be able to buy tobacco in Norway,” she said.
Despite the NMA’s enthusiasm for the idea, Aftenposten spoke with the health spokespersons from the Conservatives, Labour, Centre and the Christian Democrats and none of them thought that such a proposal is currently feasible.
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NMA president Marit Hermansen told Aftenposten that it is not a basic human right to begin using tobacco.
“We have long had the policy of phasing out smoking by 2035. This is a measure to achieve this goal. We want a tobacco-free generation,” Hermansen said.
“It shouldn’t be forbidden to smoke, but we want young people to not get started with tobacco,” she added.
Hermansen said that she believes it is possible to get political backing for NMA’s proposal.
“The [health] minister has said that the main objective is to hinder young people from beginning to smoke. That means that when the new generations come of age, they won’t be able to buy tobacco in Norway,” she said.
Despite the NMA’s enthusiasm for the idea, Aftenposten spoke with the health spokespersons from the Conservatives, Labour, Centre and the Christian Democrats and none of them thought that such a proposal is currently feasible.
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