Tobacco giant steps up campaign against anti-smoking measures

The price of 20 Longbeach Filter cigarettes is $5.19 in the duty-free shop, and $13.10 in the supermarket. Photo / Thinkstock

Tobacco giant Phillip Morris is stepping up its campaign against anti-smoking measures.

At noon today, the company launched a new website, which highlights four key issues facing smokers.

Company spokesman Christopher Bishop told the Herald users of the site - myopinioncounts.co.nz - are able to register and discuss problems facing smokers in New Zealand today.

Issues highlighted on the site include increased tobacco taxes, which have been hiked by over 30 per cent since last April and new retail display rules for tobacco products.

The launch of the site coincides with the new rules, which dictate shops must have all tobacco products hidden from view, and come into force next Monday.

Mr Bishop said the site was launched after "talking with its [Phillip Morris] consumers... who wanted a place to learn about the regulatory issues the New Zealand government are looking at."

They want a chance to voice their opinions, he said.

But anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health say the website is a last-ditch attempt from the tobacco industry.

"When your company gets to the point where it can no longer engage constructively with policy makers and starts to attack them through a website, it shows you are dying," said director Ben Youdan.

Mr Youdan told the Herald the site was a sign Phillip Morris were "very, very afraid" about an increase in anti-tobacco measures.

The tobacco giant are also planning to issue retailers with postcards pointing cigarette-buyers to the website.

Mr Bishop said the postcard scheme was completely voluntary, and no shops would be pressured into handing out the cards.