Press Release
Cigarettes at $20,000 a pack
Auckland man sells his right to smoke
21 March 2008 – Few people would dispute that smoking is bad for you. Many people try to quit each year, spurred on by
their own health, the health of their families and the financial impact of smoking. Auckland man James Hurman is making
sure smoking will cost him – far more than the average packet.
James is selling his right to smoke on Trade Me. He’ll pay the successful bidder on the contract, drawn up by lawyer
Chris Hoquard, $1,000 for every cigarette he smokes after 31 March, 2008. That works out at $20,000 a packet – a
powerful disincentive!
“I’ve been a smoker for twelve years now,” says James, “and now that my wife Annabel and I have our first child on the
way, it’s time to kick the habit once and for all.”
James has tried to quit several times during his career as a smoker, to no avail. “The usual methods haven’t worked,” he
says, “so I’m hoping putting so much money on the line will be a more effective deterent.”
The Trade Me auction goes live today, Friday 21 March and will close on Monday 31 March. All proceeds of the auction go
to the Cancer Society of New Zealand.
Read more about James and his quest to quit smoking on his blog at www.smokinghabitforsale.com
ENDS