Higher smoking age rejected

THREE out of four Tasmanians reject a proposal to increase Tasmania’s smoking age to 21 or 25, polling shows.

Close up portrait of young man smoking cigarette

THREE out of four Tasmanians reject a proposal to increase Tasmania’s smoking age to 21 or 25, polling shows.

Polling commissioned by the Australian Retailers Association shows 75 per cent of the 1000 Tasmanian adults surveyed in the past fortnight did not want to see an increase in the smoking age.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson described the survey as push-polling used to manipulate public opinion.

Raising the smoking age to 21 or 25 was the centrepiece of the State Government’s Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan.

But the Australian Retailers Association followed the Tasmanian Hospitality Association and SmokeFree Tasmania in raising concerns.

Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said the surveys showed Tasmanians understood better outcomes would be achieved through education that avoided confusion for retailers and the community.

“Although the idea may seem positive in a vacuum, the complicated logistics of the proposal make it simply unworkable,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“It is clear [Tasmanians] would overwhelming prefer better education and more research into why people start smoking in the first place.”

The polling asked: “To what extent do you agree or disagree that the age of majority [ie, at 18 years, considered an adult] which is also the age of access to alcohol, gambling, voting etc, should also equally apply across products such as tobacco?”

Respondents were asked: “In light of the State Government’s proposed increase to the smoking age, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement — ‘I would prefer to see better education and harm reduction measures to reduce smoking rates’.”

In both cases 75 to 76 per cent either agreed or strongly agreed with the statements.

Mr Ferguson said the survey was disappointing.

“Frankly, this tactic is disingenuous and is a reaction to earlier public polls, which were favourable,” he said.

“As we have consistently said since the consultation draft was published, if there is any change, the same compliance provisions for retailers as currently apply would continue under a higher legal smoking age.

“While the tobacco lobby is stirring up trouble, the real issue at stake is how we can improve the health of Tasmanians.”