WELLINGTON, New Zealand – There are smoke-free bars, smoke-free parks, even smoke-freecollege campuses. But a smoke-free country? New Zealand's government on Thursday squeezed smokers more thanever by announcing a 40 percent hike in tobacco taxes over the nextfour years. Prices there are already among the highest in theworld, and by 2016 they will top 20 New Zealand dollars ($15) apack on average. Officials hope higher taxes and new restrictions will bring thenation of 4.4 million closer to a recent pledge to snuff out thehabit entirely by 2025. Other countries have lauded the idea oftrying to wean their populace off tobacco, but few, if any, havebeen willing to put a date on it. Health officials here are so serious they recently consideredhiking the cost of a pack of cigarettes to 100 New Zealand dollars($75). Although that idea was dismissed, another measure, whichwill force retailers to hide cigarettes below the counter ratherthan putting them on display, will come into effect in July. Smoking rates among New Zealand adults have fallen from about 30percent in 1986 to about 20 percent today. Cigarette sales havefallen more sharply, suggesting that even people who haven't quitcut back as prices rose. People who are still smoking aren't happy about where prices aregoing. Chris Hobman said the cost is "horrendous" and could drive somelow-income people to commit crimes to support their habit. He saidthe government needs to provide more support and alternatives tosmokers if it's serious about making them quit. Wellington resident Hayley Mauriohooho, who has smoked for about 20years, said that although it would be good if more people quit,higher taxes won't stop her. "It's quite ridiculous for the government to be concentrating onthat," she said. "They have bigger things to worry about." New Zealand's Cancer Society reacted to Thursday's announcement bysending out a press release titled "Thumbs Up!" Michael Calhoun, a spokesman for the anti-smoking lobby group ASH,said the fact that a higher percentage of low-income people smokewill mean the tax increases will force many to cut back or quitentirely because they simply won't be able to afford their habit. The New Zealand branch of cigarette company British AmericanTobacco says the tax increases will force consumers to turn to theblack market. "Consumer demand is far better served by legitimate companies thanby the illegal operators that will surely grow as the governmentmakes it increasingly difficult for people to buy their product ofchoice," wrote Susan Jones, head of corporate and regulatoryaffairs, in an email. So far, New Zealand officials have seen few cases of illegaltobacco sales. The South Pacific nation's smoking statistics are similar to thosein other developed countries. According to a 2011 study by theWorld Health Organization, about 20 percent of adult New Zealanderssmoke. That compares to about 16 percent of adults in the U.S., 17percent in Australia, 23 percent in China and 27 percent in France. New Zealand already charges more than 70 percent tax on cigarettes,compared to 41 percent on average for China, 45 percent on averagefor the U.S., 64 percent for Australia and 80 percent for France. ___ Follow Nick Perry on Twitter at twitter.com/nickgbperry. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Fabao 101D Manufacturer , Hair Regrow Shampoo Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit 101B Formula today!
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