Yo, this is a pretty bold move by New Zealand:

Were you born after January 1, 2009?

You are now ineligible to purchase cigarettes in New Zealand.

No joke.

And say what you want — some applaud Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as a hero, some think this is absurd — but it's happening, and it'll be quite an experiment.

The new law effectively bans anyone born in 2009 or later from purchasing cigarettes — for their entire lifetimes. That means it raises the minimum age to buy cigarettes every year beginning in 2023.

Officials have said their goal is to decrease the number of New Zealanders who smoke cigarettes to just 5% of the population by 2025. Currently, 11% of the adult population smokes.

That's it, plain and simple.

As for me and my thoughts on this, I happen to think smoking is bad. I'm no saint — I do smoke — but I still think it's bad.

But do I think the government has any place in telling me whether I can or cannot smoke, especially based on whether I was born before or after 2009?

NO STINKING WAY, JOSE!!!!

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and everyone is entitled to his or her own way around this new law (there will be plenty).

Like I said, it will be one heck of an experiment, and I'm looking forward to the results. I'm hopeful that the law will at least be beneficial to the health of New Zealanders, and that something other than government overreach will be accomplished here.

Maybe just wishful thinking.