More quit smoking following tobacco price hikes

New Year's resolutions to quit smoking and tobacco price hikes kept Quitline busy yesterday.

Quitline spokeswoman Sarah Woods said 70 people registered to kick the habit in the first hour-and-a-half after the service's phonelines opened at 10am, and by 3pm more than 100 had registered.

"January is always a busy month because of New Year's resolutions and the tobacco tax increase has given people the extra push," she said.

The reasons people are giving are the same as usual: health, family and because they are generally sick of it."

It was only the second time Quitline had been open on January 1 and they were "delighted" with the number of people using the service, she said.

Last January, more than 9000 people quit smoking with the help of the service and Quitline expected similar numbers for 2012, Woods said.

The most popular brands will now cost $13.80 for a pack of 20 cigarettes and $31 for a 30g pack of loose tobacco.

Quitline chief executive Paula Snowden said quitting smoking could save a smoker $4500 a year.

People who register to quit smoking with Quitline have access to their free counselling and support services, and also heavily subsidised patches, lozenges, and gum. Fairfax NZ

Quitline is open from Monday to Friday, and also Sunday. For support to quit smoking, visit quit.org.nz or call 0800 778 778.

- © Fairfax NZ News