State to increase smoking age to 21

An Australian state government has outlined its plan to increase the smoking age well above the national standard of 18. The Tasmanian government is proposing that young adults not be allowed to smoke until they are 21.

The government initiative is part of a bold shake-up of healthcare policy, with Tasmania aiming to become Australia's healthiest state by 2025.

Currently more than half of Tasmanians are overweight or obese, while 20 percent of the population smoke, the second highest rate in the nation.