Senate backs ban of sale of cigarettes to the under-18s

The sale of cigarettes and rolling tobacco in the Netherlands will be restricted to people aged 18 and over from January 1 2014.
The upper house of parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of raising the legal age from 16 in an effort to reduce the number of youngsters taking up smoking.
Junior health minister Martin van Rijn said last year he would raise the legal age to buy tobacco. This, he said, will also support parents and schools in efforts to stop children taking up the habit.
The sale of beer and wine to the under-18s will also be illegal from next January.