Higher tax on tobacco sought

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 6

Higher tax on tobacco sought

PA Wellington Anti-smoking lobbyists are to meet with the Associate Minister of Finance, ■ Mr Trevor de Cleene, tomorrow to put their case for an increase in taxation on tobacco. The deputation of representatives from the Maori Women’s Welfare League, the Consumers’ Institute, the National Heart Foundation and a Christchurch health economist is concerned about the increase in smoking amongst teenagers and lower income groups. “Death rates from smoking-related diseases are already higher amongst those of lower incomes, and as larger numbers of young people start smoking, we can expect to see an even greater increase in smok-ing-related death and disease,” Dr Jane Chetwynd, health,. economist and senior lecturer at the Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine, said. ...j \ “An increase iin the price of cigarettes is the most effective way to deter smoking amongst these groups.” She said surely the Government could not refuse the move, which would also help keep down the budget deficit.