How? By banning the sale of tobacco products for anyone born on or after 1/1/09.

Tobacco smoking is the world’s leading cause of preventable death. It kills more than 1,900 South Australians per year. South Australia has a proud record of leading strong tobacco control measures to reduce preventable death, disease, and health system burden due to smoking. This World Health Organization report outlines tobacco control measures aimed at drastically reducing tobacco use prevalence and associated harms. Actions like reducing the number of tobacco retailers, removing nicotine from products, and enacting Tobacco-Free Generation Policies.

As a first step, we call on the South Australian government to introduce Tobacco-Free Generation legislation which prohibits the sale and supply of tobacco products and e-cigarettes to people born on or after 1 January 2009.

This novel measure is equitable, and evidence-informed and stops the tobacco industry from hooking new generations of customers onto its deadly products. By regulating sales and holding retailers accountable, rather than penalising young people, the policy places responsibility for compliance on those who profit from selling harmful, addictive products.

This measure has high levels of public support, including among young people, and is consistent with national tobacco control reforms. It also helps prevent adolescents from developing nicotine addiction through vaping and then transitioning to smoking. Preventing young people from starting to smoke is a highly effective strategy for lowering smoking prevalence, and the numerous, avoidable harms which follow.