Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tamara James is planning to butt out after news the federal government is again raising the price of a pack of cigarettes.
The 23-year-old from Berkeley, in the NSW Illawarra, started smoking when she was 15 and has tried to give up many times, but yesterday’s announcement that the cost of cigarettes would increase by 12.5 per cent a year for the next four years has prompted her to give it another go.
‘‘As soon as I heard that prices were going up again, I thought, ‘I’ve got to quit smoking now’,’’ she said.
‘‘It already costs $22 for a 40-pack, and I smoke about three packs a week, so it’s just getting too expensive.
‘‘I’ve tried to give up before but the higher price of them is really going to be an incentive to make it work this time.’’
Illawarra health groups have applauded the government’s plan, which will help raise an estimated $5.3 billion in revenue.
Cancer Council NSW southern regional manager Toby Dawson said increasing the price of cigarettes was one of the most effective ways to get smokers to quit.
‘‘It’s fantastic to see the government taking further leadership and taking proactive steps to reduce tobacco consumption in Australia,’’ he said.
‘‘We know increasing the price and decreasing accessibility are two proven measures in terms of reducing tobacco consumption.’’
Mr Dawson said the proposed price hikes complemented other government measures which had already contributed to a decline in tobacco consumption in recent years.
He said price hikes in 2010, combined with the outlawing of smoking inside pubs and clubs, had seen the percentage of the population who smoked decrease from 15.8 per cent in 2010 to 14.7 per cent in 2011.
‘‘So this latest tax increase is part of a bigger picture of tobacco control which we’ve seen escalate in the last 12 to 24 months,’’ Mr Dawson said.
‘‘It also includes the NSW legislation that has recently been passed to stop smoking in alfresco dining areas from next year, as well as the plain packaging laws the Commonwealth passed last year.’’
Heart Foundation regional health promotion co-ordinator Andy Mark said raising the price of tobacco products not only helped smokers quit, it also deterred young people from taking up the habit in the first place.
‘‘Plus it helps those people who have already quit to stay smoke-free,’’ he said.
Smoke Free Illawarra chairwoman Annie McDonald felt the price increase would encourage smokers to instead pay for medications and nicotine replacement therapies.
‘‘Many smokers are unaware that a lot of these medications are PBS listed now,’’ she said.