New Zealand will ban the sale of tobacco to its next generation, in a bid to eventually phase out smoking.

Anyone born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in their lifetime, under a law expected to be enacted next year.

"We want to make sure young people never start smoking," Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verall said.

But I imagine the legislation will not outlive the current government... (long may it reign)

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}