Smokers told to give up or pay the price

BY CLAIRE CONNELL AND PENNY WARDLE

A Marlborough health professional is encouraging people to give up smoking as soon as possible, with the cost of a packet of 20 cigarettes expected to cost up to $14 by 2012.

The Government passed legislation under urgency last night immediately pushing up the average cost of a packet of 25 cigarettes by $1.10 and by nearly $5 a packet – or 30 per cent – by 2012.

The Government says the tax increase will save 300 lives by 2021 and force 40,000 of the nation's estimated 900,000 smokers to quit.

Wairau Hospital Quit Smoking coach Brenda Chilvers welcomed the "fantastic" decision and encouraged people to give up right away, rather than wait for the cost to hit them harder in two years' time.

"Jump off that rollercoaster of addiction and be fully smokefree by the time a packet costs nearly $20," she said.

Marlborough has at least nine smokefree workers in the community within the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, ranging from GPs to specialised quit coaches.

Mrs Chilvers said people wanting to quit often talked about the cost of smoking.

"The increased cost will make it prohibitive for a lot of people," she said.

While some people would "dig their heels in", she expected an immediate increase in the number of people contacting her about quitting: "I know some people will do it hard, but we know that its impact is going to be a good thing."

Nelson Marlborough Maori Health Board chairman Joe Puketapu also gave the increased tobacco tax his tick of approval.

"Anything that will help reduce smoking among our Maori populations is a good thing," Mr Puketapu, a reformed smoker, said this morning.

"Too many Maori are suffering the effects of tobacco use and too many are dying."

While Mr Puketapu said increasing tobacco tax would be especially tough on low-income families, that would be outweighed by benefits to individual health and savings for the health system.

Hospital Dairy owner Frances Bedingfield, who has smoked about 10 cigarettes a day for about 30 years, said she would now "look twice" at her habit, but did not have any intention of quitting anytime soon.

"The stress of running a business and the day-to-day problems – I can sit down and have a smoke and it relaxes me, and off I go again. It's everyone's personal choice."

The cost increase did not bother her, but things might be different if she had a young family to look after, she said.

"Some will try to give up, and some won't, but it's going to get to the stage where it's just so expensive."

She said she would not put up her prices until directed to by the Government.

"We don't make much money off them – it's just a service. My personal opinion is that the Government wants more money and it is the best way they can get it."

A 21-year-old smoker, who has smoked a packet a week on and off since she was 14, said the increase would not deter her from smoking.

"I think if people want to smoke they are going to smoke no matter how much it goes up. Prices have already increased heaps since I started, but it might stop young people starting if it gets really expensive."

WHAT'S IN A CIGARETTE

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals including: ammonia (used in toilet cleaner), hydrogen cyanide (used in rat poison), acetone (used in paint stripper), carbon monoxide (used in car exhaust fumes), DDT (used in insecticide).

More than 60 of the chemicals can cause cancers.

WHAT TOBACCO DOES TO YOU

Harms almost every organ and system in the body.

Is the cause of 80 per cent of lung cancer cases, and linked to many other cancers.

Is a major cause of heart attacks, heart disease, stroke and respiratory diseases.

Can cause blindness, impotence and infertility.

- The Marlborough Express