Smoking on rise among young men

SIX years after drab plain packaging and massive tax hikes were introduced to curb tobacco use, daily smoking rates actually increased among men aged 25-29, up to 19.3 per cent from 17.3 per cent in 2013.

Smoking also increased among men aged 40-49.

While daily smoking rates initially plunged from 15.1 per cent to 12.8 per cent after the tough new measures, the latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare count shows the overall rate fell to 12.2 per cent between 2013 and 2016.

When weekly smokers are added to the tally, 14 per cent of Australians were still smoking in 2016 and, more recent state-based data for 2017 and 2018 shows smoking rates still well above 10 per cent.

This is even though a series of tax hikes means a packet of 30 cigarettes now costs $35.20, or more than $1 per stick.

Experts say the reason is there has been no good federally funded mass media advertising campaigns warning of the dangers of smoking since 2012, the tobacco industry has cut prices and people are shifting to cheaper roll-your-own.

Associate Professor Colin Mendelsohn, chairman of the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association, says Australia should embrace ecigarettes or vaping to help people quit smoking or get nicotine in a safer manner.

But Health Minister Greg Hunt strongly supports the ban on the sale of nicotine that could be used in e-cigarettes.