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Source: ONE News -
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The New Year has begun with massive push to get more Kiwis to give up smoking.
The price of a pack of cigarettes increased 10% today, with the Public Health Association (PHA) believing today's increase in tobacco tax will see more people quit smoking this year.
National executive officer Gay Keating says the tax rise will make many people who have made New Year resolutions to stop smoking, more determined to stop.
The last tax increase in April 2010 almost doubled the numbers of callers registering with Quitline and over two-thirds of callers interviewed said that the tax increase was one of their reasons to quit.
The tax will see tobacco prices rise in total by 28 to 40 percent by next year - that is on top of inflation and GST.
The PHA believes 2010 was a banner year in the journey towards a smokefree New Zealand, with increases in taxes on tobacco, and the release of the Maori Affairs Select Committee report on Maori smoking and the tobacco industry.
"In 2011, we look forward to the government addressing the Maori Affairs Select Committee's recommendations, most of which will benefit all New Zealanders. These include more support for quit smoking services for Maori women and young Maori," Dr Keating said.
The PHA also wants to see tobacco displays removed from dairies and other retail outlets this year.
"We hope that many more New Zealanders will make New Year 2011 time 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 stop their smoking habit, the Auckland University's Centre for Tobacco Control Research has found.
"We surveyed about 500 people a couple of months ago after the GST increase and we didn't find people were that fazed by the price. It's something they are just absorbing," Auckland University expert Dr Marewa Glover said.
But that absorption is going to hurt them financially, Quitline reckons.
"If a family has one person who smokes a pack a day, it $4,500 dollars a year, a tank of gas a week, over a month for an average family it's a week's rent. It's really serious money." Paula Snowden, chief executive for The Quit Group, which runs Quitline, said.
Some determined smokers are even turning to the new fad of electronic cigarettes, where they inhale water vapour not toxic fumes.
"We have experienced 200% increase in sales which came with the Smokefree Day as well, when people started to look for an alternative to cigarettes and also trying to save money," Paul Medarov, CEO of Elusion Cigarette Company said.
Quitline is expecting greater demand on its services as the tax increase comes into effect.
"Quitline is not usually open on Saturday but we want to be there to support people," Snowden said.
"Those who use support are up to five times more likely to succeed than going it alone. Eighty percent of smokers wished they'd never started smoking and we expect the January tax jump will be a trigger for many to quit."
Quitline advisors will be there for smokers from 10am New Year's Day 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 will save around $4,500 a year.
Smoking related deaths killed 13 Kiwis every day and around 1 in 5 smoke cigarettes.
Anyone seeking support can call the Quitline for free on 0800 778 778 or visit www.quit.org.nz for online support and to register for Txt2Quit, a free text-based service.
