Editorial: Plenty of reasons to give up smoking

The Budget was a fairly flat affair. There were few surprises or dramatics, and it is unlikely to go down in the history books as one to remember.

But, having said that, Mr English's Budget did have a few stings in the tail - including a hammer blow to smokers.

Smokers will pay at least $5 more for a packet of 20 cigarettes by 2016 because tobacco excise taxes will increase by 10 per cent a year in each of the next four years.

Once inflation increases are included, the price of the average packet of 20 cigarettes will climb dramatically from about $15 to more than $20 by 2016.

The price of an average packet of loose tobacco will climb to around $40 over the next four years. The first of the new tax increases will begin on January 1.

These prices for a pack of smokes are high. In four years, a pack-a-day habit will set someone back at least $140 a week.

So, I have to agree with the Government when it says the rises, which follow a 40 per cent increase in tobacco excises since April 2010, will give smokers another financial incentive to quit and put young people off smoking.

It is imperative this country does everything it can to discourage young people from starting smoking.

Tobacco smoking, including second-hand smoke, kills about 5000 New Zealanders each year.

According to ASH, about one in five adults smoke, and most New Zealanders begin before they are 14.6 years old and 12.8 per cent of youth aged 14-15 are regular smokers.

Some people argue there is a downside to high tobacco prices. They will say it will only hurt low-income people hardest and these people will simply make other cuts to the household budget and children will suffer.

It is a shame to think children might suffer but if parents are doing their job properly, they will put their children first and quit smoking if struggling to provide for their family.

These days, unlike many years ago, there is plenty of free help available. Quitline offers a great service including free telephone support and low-cost nicotine patches. There is no excuse if people cannot afford to smoke.