The government presented a series of initiatives under the title “Make Denmark healthier” that they will attempt to pass into legislation in the following months.
- Raise the age limit for buying alcohol at 18 years old.
- National campaign to discourage alcohol consumption among young people.
- Ban the possibility to buy nicotine-based products for people born after 2010.
Reactions to the “Healthcare Reform” proposal
- Conservatives – against the initiatives to raise the age limit and ban nicotine.
- Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) – supports the ban on nicotine products.
- Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) – skeptical about implementation of the ban.
- Young Social Democrats (DSU) – against the initiative to raise the age limit for buying alcohol – internal war inside the Social Democrat Party. They point out that the elderly over 60 years old consume more alcohol than young people.
Similar legislation regarding nicotine around the world
- New Zealand – People born after 2008 will not be allowed to buy tobacco products from 2023.
- Malaysia – People born after 2005 will not be allowed to buy tobacco products from 2023.
- Bhutan – Smoking is illegal for everyone.
- 1950 – 1970 – Any child could buy cigarettes at the grocery store and teachers would smoke during class. The tobacco industry is thriving. By 1970, 60% of the adult population in Denmark smoked.
- 1980 – Research shows the negative effects of nicotine.
- 1990 – 40% of the adult population in Denmark smoked.
- 1995 – The first law against smoking – ban on smoking in public spaces and transport.
- 2002 – Ban on tobacco advertising.
- 2004 – Age limit to buy tobacco products raised to 16 years old.
- 2008 – raised again to 18 years old.
