Below are jurisdictions that have passed innovative laws to phase out the sale of tobacco products.
US Endgame Progress
- 19 towns in Massachusetts have passed a Nicotine-Free Generation (NFG) policy as of November 4, 2025, the towns with a birthdate-based phase-out of the sale of tobacco products (and their birthdate sales cut offs) are:
Belchertown, Brookline (first to pass), Chelsea, Concord, Conway, Dover, Hopkinton, Malden, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Melrose, Needham, Newton, Pelham, Reading, Somerville, South Hadley, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester
- Three towns in Minnesota and one in NY are phasing out tobacco retail licenses:
Dolgeville, NY; Bloomington, MN; Little Canada, MN; St. Anthony Village, MN
- Three towns in California have banned tobacco product sales altogether.
Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach, and Tiburon, CA
Alternative Path:
– One county in California has banned cigarette filters: Santa Cruz County, CA
Global Progress
- The Maldives has implemented Smoke-Free Generation (SFG)*
- * This policy does not include e-cigarettes because their sale was already banned.
- Tobacco-Free Generation bill is pending in the UK
- Nicotine-Free Generation bill is pending in South Australia
- The European Union is committing funds for endgame work in 24 countries
Passed but Repealed
- In 2016, Balanga City, Philippines passed a Tobacco-Free Generation law that bans the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2000. The tobacco industry sued, and won so TFG has not been implemented.
- In 2022, The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act (SERPA) and the Smokefree Aotearoa Action Plan passed in New Zealand. This policy was a smoke-free generation policy that banned the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after January 1, 2009, nicotine reduction to non-addictive levels, and a drastic reduction in the number of retailers. Under a new government, New Zealand repealed the Act in 2023.
US Goals
- The United States Department of Health adopted the Healthy People 2030 platform, including a goal of less than 5% smoking prevalence by 2030. Unfortunately, in 2022 the goal was changed to 6.1%.
- The State of California aims to end the tobacco epidemic by 2035. The California Tobacco Control Program unveiled its endgame plans to the public health community in January 2021. Learn more about ASH’s work in California here.
Global Goals
- ASPIRE Countries
Over the past decade, at least 15 governments – the so-called ASPIRE countries – adopted goals to drive prevalence to very low numbers by a certain date.
- New Zealand was the first to set a goal – they hoped to push prevalence down below 5% by 2025.
On December 13, 2022, the New Zealand Parliament passed the most sweeping anti-tobacco law in the world, including Tobacco-Free Generation, drastically reducing the number of retailers, and reducing nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels. Unfortunately, a new government rescinded the law in 2024. Action Plan and Resources for Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 here>
- Europe
On February 3, 2021, the European Commission unveiled its “Beating Cancer Plan.” One of the Plan’s key actions is to reduce smoking prevalence to below 5% by 2040. The EC’s plan recognizes that it will be impossible to defeat cancer without ending tobacco use. A task force formed by the Commission – on which ASH served – recommended a birthdate-based tobacco sales phaseout.
- France
November 4, 2025 during a press conference, MP Nicolas Thierry and the ACT-Alliance Against Tobacco presented a landmark bill aimed at achieving the government’s goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2032. The principle of the measure is simple: to prohibit tobacco companies from selling tobacco to anyone born after 2014. Supported today by three-quarters of the French population, this proposal, co-signed by more than 20 MPs ranging from the LFI group to the Horizons group, is not only necessary for the health of our citizens, but also for the health of our economy, our healthcare system, and our environment.
- Spain
On February 12, 2021, a coalition of Spanish health and advocacy groups published its “Endgame Declaration of Tobacco in Spain 2030,” a detailed plan to make “tobacco consumption disappear from Spanish society” within ten years. The centerpiece of the plan is the enactment of the “Tobacco Free Generation” concept, which would bar sales to anyone born after 2006. Some health officials from the ruling party seem to be on board.
- Wales
July 26, 2022 – long-term plan towards a smoke-free Wales by 2030.
- Theme 1: Reducing inequalities
- Theme 2: Future generations
- Theme 3: A whole-system approach for a smoke-free Wales
Organizational Support
- Both the British and Norwegian Medical Associations have endorsed the Tobacco-Free Generation Concept
- The American Medical Association endorsed the Nicotine-Free Generation Concept
All these efforts require sustained effort to build and maintain political will and develop detailed plans. But ending the commercialization of tobacco is no longer a fringe topic in public health.
