SA government to offer $150 supermarket vouchers to quit smoking amid vaping crackdown

Smokers in Adelaide’s north can get $150 vouchers by quitting smoking in a groundbreaking trial – as a crackdown on vaping widens across the state.

In a first of its kind, the state government is offering financial incentives to South Australians as part of a groundbreaking program to encourage people to quit smoking and vaping e-cigarettes.

The Incentive to Quit trial is set to be rolled out by Northern Adelaide Aboriginal Health, also known as Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health, with participants being offered up to $150 in supermarket vouchers, based on how long they go without smoking or vaping.

Aboriginal Health executive director Kurt Towers said smoking was a major factor in the disease gap burden between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

“Tobacco smoking is the most preventable cause of illness and early death in Aboriginal communities,” he said

“(It is) responsible for 23 per cent of the gap in disease burden between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.

“We are proud of the role the Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health Service plays in engaging Aboriginal consumers in strategies to support quitting and prevent the uptake of smoking.”

Health Minister Chris Picton said the strategy set out a “bold target” for South Australians to have the lowest smoking rate in the country.

“If we are able to achieve this, it has to be matched with bold incentives, such as the Incentives to Quit program,” he said.

“We want to do all we can in South Australia to reduce smoking and e-cigarette use and the toll it takes on individuals in the community.”

The trial will initially focus on supporting Indigenous people to quit and soon be offered to other groups including those with heart and lung conditions and mental-health conditions.

Vapers exiled in tough crackdown on dangerous fad

Smoking or vaping will be banned at more outdoor public areas, fines doubled for selling tobacco-related products to minors and venue cigarette vending machines outlawed, under an official crackdown.

Proposed new laws will outlaw consuming physical or e-cigarettes at, or near, schools, shopping centres, buildings, hospitals, nursing homes, swimming pools, beaches, jetties, major sports events and children’s sporting grounds.

A planned new crackdown to be unveiled on Thursday, will also propose a doubling of penalties for the sale, or supply of, tobacco products to children, aged 17 or younger.

Authorities, who will consult on key changes, are also planning a clampdown on the use, and supply of, tobacco or e-cigarettes, in SA in coming weeks.

Paris Pangalos agreed with the crackdown. Picture: Dean Martin

Ministers want to increase fines from $1200 to $2400.

A maximum court fine for a first offence is also proposed to rise from $20,000 to $40,000 for a business or $5000 to $10,000 for an individual.

SA Health enforcement officers will have powers to issue fines of up to $105 for breaches in new banned areas.

A maximum fine of $750 will apply for prosecutions. Police also have powers to issue fines.

In response to inquiries, Health Minister Chris Picton said there was “still significant challenges” in stamping out smoking and vaping, particularly in young people.

“We make no apologies for seeking to introduce tougher bans and penalties, particularly where children are impacted,” he said.

“The significant increase in vaping among young people is extremely concerning and a trend that we must stop.”

The state government’s new five-year “Tobacco Control Strategy”, outlines a series of plans to reduce smoking in key priority markets.

Officials want to cut smoking use from 9.8 per cent of South Australians to 6 per cent within five years.

Grace Barilla said vaping was “quite habitual”. Picture: Dean Martin

They also want to more than halve usage among 15 to 29 year-olds, of which one in 10 currently smoke daily.

Data shows a significant increase in vape use in this age group from 1.1 per cent in 2017 to 7.8 per cent last year.

Drug and Alcohol Services SA state director, Marina Bowshall, warned community e-cigarette use was “alarming”.

The strategy’s 20-page report warns population groups with higher smoking prevalence needed urgent attention.

These included children and teenagers, indigenous communities – particularly among pregnant Aboriginal women – mental health patients and those living in “socio-economically disadvantaged communities”.

“Despite the strong downward trend in overall smoking prevalence in South Australia, smoking uptake among some young people remains an issue of concern,” the report said.

“It is critically important to address smoking uptake among young people, to reduce the impact of smoking in the younger generations.”

The report states that quitting smoking can “add as much as 10 years to life expectancy”. Figures in the report show 28 people die every week in SA from tobacco-related disease while health costs linked to smoking costs the economy more than $2.39bn a year.

City vapers on Thursday welcomed the crackdown including public servant Paris Pangalos, 23, of Mawson Lakes, who said the proposed areas were “understandable”.

“I would encourage everyone to not smoke anything despite me sitting here now vaping,” he said.

Fashion marketing university student Grace Barilla, 26, of Seaton, agreed the banned areas were “more than fair”.

“I quit smoking but vapes are quite habitual,” she said.

A four week consultation will guide proposed new laws for parliament later this year.