Danes to tackle smoking, binge drinking

Denmark is thinking about banning the sale of cigarettes as the northern European nation looks to break the cycle of addiction and harm caused by smoking.

The country of almost 6 million people unveiled plans on Tuesday to steer future generations away from cigarettes and other products containing the addictive substance nicotine, including potentially banning their sale to people born after 2010.

The idea is that, while currently only people younger than 12 would be impacted by such a ban, everyone will eventually fall within its jurisdiction as the years go by.

Currently, people need to be aged 18 or older to buy tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

"Our hope is that all people born in 2010 and later will never start smoking or using nicotine-based products," said Health Minister Magnus Heunicke during a news conference where he unveiled the idea. "If necessary, we are ready to ban the sale to this generation by progressively raising the age limit."

The nation's health ministry said around 31 percent of Danes aged 15 to 29 are smokers. Addiction is the main cause of cancer and is blamed for causing 13,600 deaths a year in the Nordic country.

While the plan put forward by the Social Democratic government to phase out tobacco upset smokers, the general population seems to support the proposal. A survey conducted by the Danish Cancer Society found that 64 percent of Danes liked the idea, with support rising to 67 percent among 18- to 34-year-olds.

Similar move

Denmark is the latest in a growing list of nations to vow to stub out smoking. The New Zealand government said it wants to consign smoking to the ashtray by 2025.

In the United Kingdom, Javed Khan, who is leading an independent review of the nation's smoking policies, said he may recommend the government to ban people under the age of 25 from buying tobacco products.

Denmark is also understood to have been inspired by initiatives in Ireland, Sweden and Finland, where there are plans in place to encourage a smoke-free generation to develop between 2025 and 2030.

Denmark also wants to see fewer young people binge drinking and intends to raise the age at which people can buy beer and wine－from 16 to 18.

"We know that young people who drink large amounts of alcohol in one setting are at increased risk of accidents, violence and unwanted sex," Niels Sando, a spokesperson for the health ministry, told TV 2 News. "Alcohol can also be harmful and affect both memory and learning ability in children and young people whose brains are still developing."

Agencies contributed to this story.