Thursday 24 May, 2012
Thumbs up!
Evidence shows that price increases in tobacco products affect smoking rates, so the Cancer Society is delighted with
the budget announcement today, that prices will rise by 10% each year for the next four years.
“We are rapidly moving towards a Smokefree Aotearoa with today’s announcement of a substantial increase on the taxation
of tobacco products. We know the rate of smoking is higher amongst more vulnerable populations and they are the ones
most sensitive towards price increases,” said Tobacco Control Advisor for the Cancer Society, Skye Kimura.
“Typically tobacco companies target young people, as their regular customers die off at a rate of 5,000 a year. This
vulnerable group is less likely to have disposable income so higher prices will make them less likely to start, and more
likely to quit, smoking.
“Protecting our children is the guiding principle of the Cancer Society’s tobacco control work. Anything that prevents
and protects kids from smoking gets the thumbs up in our book!
“We hope that a percentage of the tax revenue will be put towards more support for people to quit smoking. In fact this
budget is very timely, next Thursday is World Smokefree Day – so it is the perfect time to quit for the whānau.”
ends