Two cig-free days save $80
Shane Davis is two days into life without smoking and already he has saved nearly $80.
The 30-year-old Hamilton diesel mechanic quit smoking as one of his New Year’s resolutions. He took his last drag shortly before the end of 2018 on Monday.
He was one of many to quit as the New Year began. The Quitline quitsmoking service received 215 calls, emails and text conversations on January 1, up 50 per cent on the number that day a year ago.
Quitline’s chief executive, Andrew Slater, said its busiest time of year was early January, with people wanting to quit based on a resolution and the annual bump in tobacco prices.
Prices rose from January 1, reflecting the Government’s 10 per cent tobacco excise tax increase. It has another increase planned next January.
Davis felt crook yesterday but blamed the bottle, not the lack of cigarettes; his resolution to quit drinking hit some turbulence. But he was happy he stayed off the smokes.
“When I drink, I like to have a durrie too. I did drink last night but I didn’t have a durrie. So that was a good sign.”
Nor is Davis suffering strong cravings to smoke.
“That’s because I haven’t been around anyone that smokes. I have just been with a few close mates and they don’t smoke.
“I haven’t got the urge to [smoke]. I have been busy and it takes my mind off stuff. If I can do it for the first two days, surely I can do it for the rest of my life?”
Davis had smoked from the age of 12. For the last 10 years he smoked about 25 cigarettes a day.
The last packet of Winfield Red he bought cost about $33. Today they are listed for $39.90 at one online retailer and $38.90 at another.
He doesn’t want his 11-year-old son to smoke, one reason Davis quit.
“It’s mostly because of my health — I’m not getting any younger and I want to see my son grow up; and the price of it. Smoking can kill you — cancer and all that.
“When I go back to work [today], everyone smokes and that will probably be my test.
“I’m cold turkey at the moment until I get paid and then I’ll probably just buy some gum [nicotine replacement therapy, NRT] to take that edge off.”
The subsidised NRT can be ordered by registering with Quitline online, or by calling 0800 778 778 or texting 4006. Quitline mails clients a Quitcard prescription to redeem at a pharmacy or it can be faxed directly to their pharmacy.