Ban helps smokers kick it

Ban helps smokers kick it
Email Print Normal font Large font Cameron Houston
August 1, 2007

source: The Age

THE introduction of strict tobacco bans in Victoria's hotels has contributed to a 27 per cent rise in phone calls to the Quitline as smokers look to kick the habit in record numbers.

More than 2300 smokers sought advice from Quit Victoria in July, equivalent to the annual surge over January, when smokers traditionally make - and break - New Year's resolutions.

Quit Victoria acting director Suzie Stillman said the figures reflected the effectiveness of the new bans. "There is no doubt that the new smoking bans have had a significant impact on Victorian smokers' decisions to quit in the past month, and it is certainly an important aspect in terms of staying off cigarettes," Ms Stillman said.

"The majority of people try to quit smoking without any help, so we expect calls to Quitline only represent a small portion of smokers who have tried to give up."

Ms Stillman said the anti-tobacco battle would continue, with more than 15,000 Australians dying each year from smoking-related illnesses.

She called on the Government to ban point-of-sale advertising and require cigarette manufacturers to use plain packaging for all tobacco products.

The smoking ban's impact on the hospitality industry has been less severe than nay-sayers had estimated. Australian Hotels Association Victoria chief executive Brian Kearney said some food-oriented hotels had experienced an increase in patronage since July 1.