Australia: You Won''t Stop Smokers Smoking, Retailer Argues

Source from:  Wagga Wagga (NSW) Daily Advertiser (au)  01/07/2013

A LOCAL tobacco retailer has said the government needs to stop targeting smokers and concentrate their focus on other public health issues.

Cignall Tobacconist owner Wayne Carroll reacted to the news of the Department of Health and Ageing launching an investigation into tobacco laws after another tobacconist, The Tobacco Station, started giving away free cardboard covers, designed to cover graphic imagery that appears on plain cigarette packets.

"They are already highly taxed," Mr Carroll said.

"I don't know why the government is always demonising smokers."

Mr Carroll believed health issues around obesity was something that needed to be addressed by the government and free cardboard covers wouldn't make people break the habit.

"Smoking does cause health problems but so does a lot of other things, like foods with a high fat and sugar content," he said.  "If people want to smoke then they will, cardboard covers won't stop them."

The Advertiser spoke to several smokers who each said they would continue to smoke regardless of the covers, "I think they are ineffective," smoker Luke said.

"The images are disturbing but I don't think they actually work as far as forcing smokers to quit."

However, the investigation has been welcomed by the Cancer Council and other anti-smoking organisations. 

"The images and warnings are there for a reason and we welcome the government keeping a close eye on tobacco companies and other commercial interests seeking to circumvent the law," Cancer Council south-west region operations and community program co-ordinator Megan Savin said.

"Smokers going out of their way to cover up the plain packaging and the more powerful graphic warnings show the impact the enhanced health messaging is having."  Enditem