FED: Most smokers would try to quit if prices were hiked: poll

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2009
FED: Most smokers would try to quit if prices were hiked: poll

Eds: Embargoed until 0001 AEST Wednesday, April 15



SYDNEY, April 15 AAP - Raising the cost of a packet of cigarettes by half would prompt
the vast majority of smokers into trying to quit, a poll shows.

The research, by Cancer Council Victoria, found 74 per cent of smokers would "try and
quit" if prices were increased by 50 per cent to about the $20 mark for a packet of 30
cigarettes.

Sixty per cent of smokers also said they would try to smoke fewer cigarettes if the
price was to be substantially hiked.

The telephone poll, which took in the responses of 4,500 smokers and non-smokers, also
found 81 per cent approved of increasing tax on cigarettes if the money went toward services
to assist smokers to quit.

More than 60 per cent of current smokers were also in favour of a tax increase on cigarettes.

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said the poll result showed the important
role price played in terms of driving a further drop in smoking rates.

"With tobacco claiming 15,000 Australian lives and costing the community $31.5 billion
every year it is critical that proven tobacco control strategies, such as price increases,
are implemented as soon as possible," she said.

The National Heart Foundation has also welcomed the poll data, saying it provided invaluable
information for the National Preventative Health Taskforce as it was now considering strategies
to address tobacco use in Australia.

"Research such as this provides critical insight into the best ways to reduce smoking,"

said foundation chief executive Dr Lyn Roberts.

"The public health gains from a drop in smoking in Australia are both huge and indisputable.

"However, unless there is ongoing exposure to mass-reach interventions, such as price
increases, we will not see any population-level change."

AAP dr/jpm/apm

KEYWORD: SMOKING (EMBARGOED)

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