Southerners doubt impact of $1 price rise

Southerners were last night doubtful increasing the price of tobacco would have much impact on smokers.

Invercargill resident Sarah Walker, who admitted to smoking occasionally, said raising the price of a pack of cigarettes by about $1 was unlikely to have any im-pact, particularly on people who had been smoking for a long time.

"$1 is nothing. A smoker that has been smoking their whole life isn't going to care."

However, she conceded the increase would add about $5 to her weekly costs, which could start to impact once further increases were brought into play.

Dani Harvey, also of Invercargill, agreed and said it was unlikely the increases would encourage people to stop smoking. Both women said smoking was a personal choice and the government should not try to control people's actions.

Social smoker Alan said the best way to get people to stop smoking would be to either ban cigarettes, or increase the price by a more significant figure.

"If you want to do something serious about it, put the price through the roof.

"$1 isn't going to make a lot of difference," he said.

Educating people about the dangers of smoking, and providing them with more information on how to quit was another option, he said.

Another smoker spoken to by The Southland Times said the price increase could force her to rethink the habit, but only if further increases were introduced.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First