Close to two thirds of Australians reckon a cigarette sales ban would be a 'good thing', according to a new study.
A national survey, conducted by Cancer Council, has revealed the huge majority of Australians who support a policy that would see the prohibition of retailers selling cigarettes.
Only 16.1 per cent of surveyed Australians said a ban would be a ‘bad thing’, 50.8 per cent supported the phase-out, while 61.8 per cent said it should happen within the next decade.
Within the study, 75.3 per cent of surveyed Australians also supported the idea of stricter licensing regulations for retailers, while 76.3 per cent wanted more sales restrictions in places where children could enter.
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Director of Quit Victoria Dr Sarah White expects fewer retailers to stock cigarettes in the future regardless of an enforced ban.
She told 3AW Breakfast radio: “I think that the market might just get to a point where the retailers say ‘There’s not enough people buying these products, it’s something I have to lock away, it costs me a lot to keep under my counter, we might just give it away ourselves’.
“I’ve talked to quite a few retailers who are saying they’re not sure whether they want to stay in the business because it’s not a very profitable business for them.”
Dr White also spoke with Patricia Karvelas on ABC's RN Breakfast and opened up about Australia's declining smoking rate.
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She said: “One in three Australians, down to now one in ten smoking each day.
“So there’s been an incredible drop off in the number of people smoking, with a very low smoking rate in children.”
She added: “I think that sentiment is also coming through with retailers.”
Smoking has been decreasing in popularity across Australia since the 1990s. In 2019, only 11.6 per cent of the legal population smoked, according to an Australia Institute of Health and Welfare report.
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Between 2001 and 2019, the number of smokers aged 18 to 39 had reduced by almost 50 per cent; however, the number hadn't changed significantly for those in their 50s and 60s.
Australia isn’t alone in its support of a smoke ban.
Earlier in March this year, Denmark also announced plans to prohibit people born after 2010 from purchasing cigarettes or any other nicotine product.
The move also followed New Zealand’s plans to prohibit anyone born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco-based products.
The law will be implemented in 2027 and will raise the legal smoking age from 18 every year.
Charisa Bossinakis