Australia: Smokers ''Back Ban on Cigarettes''

Source from:  AAP (Australian Associated Press) (au)  01/16/2013

MOST Victorian smokers would back a move to make cigarettes illegal, a survey suggests.

The survey of more than 4500 adults, funded by Quit Victoria and published in the Tobacco Control Journal this month, found 72 per cent agreed it would be a good thing if cigarettes were banned from sale in shops.

Around 57 per cent of smokers agreed with the proposition, the study found.

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The survey suggests 42 per cent of smokers would welcome a ban on cigarettes within 10 years.

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said the results were higher than expected, given a ban on cigarettes has not been on the public agenda for very long.

"We have to question whether it's appropriate that they are sold in so many retail outlets," she said.

"This research signals that starting to reduce the availability of tobacco could have a high level of public support." Enditem