Quitline fielded record numbers of calls yesterday from people considering dropping their smoking habits after increases in tobacco excise tax were rushed through Parliament on Wednesday night.Parliament voted 118-4 to enact legislation that puts in place
Quitline fielded record numbers of calls yesterday from people considering dropping their smoking habits after increases in tobacco excise tax were rushed through Parliament on Wednesday night.
Parliament voted 118-4 to enact legislation that puts in place three tobacco excise increases of 10 percent -- the first came in at midnight, the second will come into force in January and the third at the beginning of 2012.
The Quit Group chief executive Paula Snowden said 610 calls were taken by Quitline advisors on a day in 2008 when a hard-hitting advertising campaign was launched, but many more than that had called following the tax hikes.
"Quitline advisors have never spoken to this many people in one day, even going back to the days when the Quitline first opened a decade ago and nicotine replacement therapy was first subsidised," Ms Snowden said.
"The majority of our callers have been thinking of quitting for some time but tell us this has given them the incentive they needed to quit."
She said the majority of smokers wanted to quit and were waiting for the right time, and for many, that time had arrived.
Many were asking for the subsidised patches, gum and lozenges available which could help deal with cravings. Callers could get an eight week supply for $3.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of smokers having stocked up on tobacco before the first price rise kicked in, and a tobacco company has warned the situation could see a spike in dairy robberies.
Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia, who got the bill through Parliament, said her next objective was to get tobacco products off shelves and out of sight.
The Australian government has also moved to hit smokers in the pocket, yesterday announcing that tobacco excise would go up by 25 percent, restrictions would be placed on advertising and over A$27 million (NZ$33 million) was to be spent on anti-smoking campaigns.
