Soon, instead of focusing on grim health warnings and gruesome advertisements for cigarettes, the advertising world will now put the spotlight on smoker’s hip pockets.
 
A move that coincides with the Cancer Institute NSW’s new research that 20% of smokers would give up smoking on a $3/- increase in cigarette prices, with an additional 29% admitting they would reduce the number of cigarettes they smoked.
 
A heavy smoker buying a packet of cigarettes for an average price of $13.50, expects to see almost $5000 going up in smoke every year.
 
As well, over the festive season, new radio advertisements honing in on this cost will be launched by the NSW Government, with Minister Assisting on Health, Barbara Perry, informing, the new ads will show better ways for spending hard-earned money than frittering it away on cigarettes.
 
‘This new campaign appeals to smokers' hip-pockets, as well as their health, describing Christmas presents and holidays that their money could be better spent on,’ she said.
 
‘People who smoke 10 or more cigarettes each day are told they are burning through more than $1500 a year, which could instead go towards creating a really special Christmas.’
 
According to Cancer Institute’s research, half the smokers are happy to welcome a cigarette price hike, if only it will help them give up smoking, including deterring young people from lighting up.
 
The survey of 800-smokers and 800 non-smokers found 66% of smokers up from 2005’s 59%, were keen to quit within the next six months.
 
Researchers were surprised to find the smokers themselves supported a hike in the price of cigarettes.