The New Year has begun with massive push to get more Kiwis togive up smoking.
The price of a pack of cigarettes increased 10% today, with thePublic Health Association (PHA) believing today’s increase intobacco tax will see more people quit smoking this year.
National executive officer Gay Keating says the tax rise willmake many people who have made New Year resolutions to stopsmoking, more determined to stop.
The last tax increase in April 2010 nearly doubled the numbersof callers registering with Quitline and over two-thirds of callersinterviewed said that the tax increase was one of their reasons toquit.
The tax will see tobacco prices rise in total by 28 to 40percent by next year – that is on top of inflation and GST.
The PHA believes 2010 was a banner year in the journey towards asmokefree New Zealand, with increases in taxes on tobacco, and therelease of the Maori Affairs Select Committee report on Maorismoking and the tobacco industry.
“In 2011, we look forward to the government addressing the MaoriAffairs Select Committee’s recommendations, most of which willbenefit all New Zealanders. These include more support for quitsmoking services for Maori women and young Maori,” Dr Keatingsaid.
The PHA also wants to see tobacco displays removed from dairiesand other retail outlets this year.
“We hope that many more New Zealanders will make New Year 2011time for a fresh start in their lives and those of their families,and take up the quit support that’s available,” Keating said.
But for some smokers, today’s tax hike was unlikely to stoptheir smoking habit, the Auckland University’s Centre for TobaccoControl Research has found.
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“We surveyed about 500 people a couple of months ago after theGST increase and we didn’t find people were that fazed by theprice. It’s something they are just absorbing,” Auckland Universityexpert Dr Marewa Glover said.
But that absorption is going to hurt them financially, Quitlinereckons.
“If a family has one person who smokes a pack a day, it $4,500dollars a year, a tank of gas a week, over a month for an averagefamily it’s a week’s rent. It’s really serious money.” PaulaSnowden, chief executive for The Quit Group, which runs Quitline,said.
Some determined smokers are even turning to the new fad ofelectronic cigarettes, where they inhale water vapour not toxicfumes.
“We have experienced 200% increase in sales which came with theSmokefree Day as well, when people started to look for analternative to cigarettes and also trying to save money,” PaulMedarov, CEO of Elusion Cigarette Company said.
Quitline is expecting greater demand on its services as the taxincrease comes into effect.
“Quitline is not usually open on Saturday but we want to bethere to support people,” Snowden said.
“Those who use support are up to five times more likely tosucceed than going it alone. eighty percent of smokers wishedthey’d never started smoking and we expect the January tax jumpwill be a trigger for many to quit.”
Quitline advisors will be there for smokers from 10am New Year’sDay right up till 9.30pm tonight.
From today the cheapest packet of 20 cigarettes will cost around$12.20 meaning that if somebody quits smoking in January, they willsave around $4,500 a year.
Smoking related deaths killed 13 Kiwis every day and around 1 in5 smoke cigarettes.
Anyone seeking support can call the Quitline for free on0800 778 778 or visit quit.org.nz foronline support and to register for Txt2Quit, a free text-basedservice.
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