Tasmania may Become World's First 'Smoke-Free' State

Tasmania may soon introduce new law to become world's first 'smoke-free' state.

Tasmania may soon win the title of the world's first 'smoke-free state' by putting new legislature in place.

The island state, which already has some of the world's strictest anti-smoking laws, is considering banning tobacco altogether, reports the Independent.

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The proposal was put forward by councillors in Burnie, in north-western Tasmania, in response to a discussion paper by the state government, which wants to reduce the smoking rate, one of Australia's highest.

Smokers in Tasmania are becoming increasingly marginalised: the state capital, Hobart, banned cigarettes from the city centre four months ago, and the second-biggest city, Launceston, recently decided to do the same.

Other councils are considering following suit, and there are also calls for smoking to be prohibited on the island's beaches.

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Civil libertarians have denounced the idea and even health experts question the wisdom of such a drastic step.

But Burnie is standing its ground.

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"We just wanted to take that extra step; to show how passionate we are about creating a healthy environment," one local official said.

Source-ANI

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