Northland Smokers Told: “Beat The Price Increase!”

Media Statement

Date: December 16, 2014

From: Smokefree Advisor, Bridget Rowse

Subject: Northland Smokers Told: “Beat The Price Increase!”

Every year, thousands of Kiwis escape their working lives for a summer holiday – epitomised by journeys to the beach, families and feasting, and, of course, the time-honoured tradition of New Year’s resolutions. Giving up smoking is consistently at the top of the list for New Year’s resolutions.

From January 1, 2015, the price of cigarettes and loose tobacco will go up another 10 per cent as another scheduled tobacco tax increase takes effect. This is the third consecutive New Year tax increase with another on its way for 2016.

Northland DHB Smokefree advisor Bridget Rowse is urging smokers to beat the price increase and consider quitting this summer.

“We’re encouraging everyone to make giving up smoking their resolution this New Year. It’s a great opportunity to begin that journey to a smokefree life.

"Smoking is just not socially acceptable - more and more people are quitting. It used to be very social and now it's not social at all. Kiwis don’t want smoking in their country anymore."

2013 census data shows more than 19,986 people in Northland aged 15-years and over smoke regularly (19.1 per cent), down from 2006 census 25.7 per cent.

According to 2013 census, there are now 463,000 adult smokers nationally, a drop of 23 per cent from 598,000 at the last census in 2006. That means 15 per cent of the adult population smoke. [http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/data-tables/total-by-topic.aspx]

The Government's official target is that New Zealand will be Smokefree by 2025, which means a smoking prevalence of less than five per cent.

Bridget says: “The cost of smoking may be going up, but the cost of quitting hasn’t changed.”

An eight-week supply of Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges costs as little as $5 – and just by using the patches, gum or lozenges will double the chance of quitting for good.

Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges are safe, and contain only a minimal amount of nicotine, and come packaged without any of the 4,000 chemicals (many of which are harmful) found in cigarettes.

To get help to stop smoking, talk to your local health provider, Aukati Kai Paipa quit coach www.aukatikaippaipa.co.nz or call Quitline on 0800 778 778, or www.quit.org.nz.

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