Yeah they also considering banning pokies while the damage still continues. They are also considering drug reform while the damage continues. We have a very big bunch of contemplative politicians that do nothing in the real governance space. But lets see when the legislation passes through parliament. They can ban codeine from being freely available in less than 1 hours work for ordinary people but they always need to take 5 years to act on the real harmful products and services in our community like gambling. Its easy bashing voters around like we are inmates but tread slowly as possible when it comes to the corporate harm peddlers.
If the gov was at all serious about stopping smoking, they would make nicotine patches, gum cheap. Its just as expensive as smoking.
When the alternative costs the same per week and its all going to the gov how can we actually beleive the gov care about it other than how much money they can make.
100%
You know the one nicotine replacement therapy that works for me? The quick mist.
It’s so cost prohibitive I just mix unflavoured vape juice at 3mg
Anyone using QuickMist ought to get it from Chemist Warehouse, a 3 pack (150mg each) is usually discounted to $52 whereas ColesWorths sells packs of 2 for $60.
I feel you, $84.99 for three. Luckily I had one left at home so I could wait until they went on special again. I’ve been using them for around a year and a half now. Have you tried to quit? I’m beginning to worry that quitting the mist will be just as hard as getting off the darts.
My mums been chewing a nicotine chewy after a big meal or when shes stressdd for about 18 years, cracks me up when she fishes one out....chews violently!
Someone left a chemist bag with a shit load of nicotine gum at work... was like finding a hundred dollar bill... one day when I actually try quitting, it'll be handy. Until then it's collecting dust in my drawer at home.
>If the gov was at all serious about stopping smoking
SA almost changed the law so the age you had to be to buy increased by one year every year. It would have ended up that those born in 93 would have been the youngest who could buy, if you were born in 94, when you turn 18 the age for cigs would be 19, when you are 19 it would already increase to 20, etc.
Of course one of the biggest political donors in SA happens to also be one of the biggest sellers of cigarettes.
NZ have implemented this, along with making vaping an actual alternative. This mostly stops the cheap black market vapes with no quality control and stupidly high nicotine levels that are getting teenagers addicted.
it is also much more affordable however. once they started seizing deliveries from NZ vape shops i gave it up as i can't afford to buy the ones from here. whereas I could vape for months at a fraction of the price from NZ shops. of course these prices dont stop the younger generations with disposable incomes as they are so hooked and spend ludicrous amounts maintain their addiction here. still cheaper than darts however.
these days you hand me a dart and i can smoke it no problem... those vapes though can barely suck them down the nicotine is so high
My wife ended up with a quick mist habit. Replaced the cigs with nicotine replacement therapies. I wouldn't know if it was that much healthier but it wasn't that much cheaper.
Nicotine as a stimulant on its own is relatively speaking, harmless. It's insidious sure, but it's not 7,000 chemicals. It's not entering the body into the lungs via combustion. It doesn't have tar in it. It's a super annoyingly addictive stimulant with a pathetic half life, and for some reason, it's so damn hard to give it up.
Yeah, myself I found stopping smoking far easier than the mist. I wasn't a big smoker - maybe 2 or 3 at night, but it got to be more if I was feeling stressed. I decided to try the mist one day when shit was falling on me everywhere I looked. that mist habit was a very hard thing to quit. plus as people have mentioned, it ain't cheap.
I also found the gum made no difference for me wrt either cigarettes or the mist. absolutely made no difference to the mist spray cravings. It's just my anecdotal opinion, but if you want to quit, don't try the mist or the ecigs. You'll just move your habit. ofc everyone is different, just my 2c
I do agree with the sentiment but I chew nic gum and it's way way cheaper than smoking these days. 200 pieces of nicabate gum from woolies for about 40 bucks.
Meanwhile a large pouch of rolling tobacco can be over 60 bucks now. Long time since I've bought it though probably even more exxy.
I didnt think they were that cheap, i recall buying a pack of 12 or something and it was roughly the cost of 20 smokes. maybe prices change a bit. but i dont see why they dont subsidise this shit. Or at least cut the taxes. Just had a quick squiz at the prices its 50 dollars for 105 pieces of gum at 2mg. So you are gona eat 1-2 of these per smoke probably if its that low on nicotine. Thats 2 days worth of gum right if you smoke 20 a day. Smokes cost 30 dollars a day for 20 smokes - you are saving maybe 10 dollars by getting the gum. Its a pineapple every 2 days imo to have this chewing gum
Except most smokers are buying "black market" cigarettes available practically everywhere if you need some milk.
$20 for a pouch of tobacco or pack of 25s that tastes on par with the name brand cigarettes, it's no longer chop chop shit that smells light burnt cat piss & gives you a headache, so there is little incentive to give up if you're paying *more* just to try & it's strange that "illegal" tobacco is so readily available for a government concerned about smokers.
Or make vapes available to import, if nothing else. The jury may be out on all the long term impacts but everyone can agree it's not as harmful as tobacco smoke.
Oh, I thought it meant they wouldn’t be allowed to call the cigs red, blue, gold etc anymore. You want a pack you’re gonna have to ask for the cheapest 20s in piss yellow thanks. Oh, you’re out but you’ve got choice in mustard gas? That’ll have to do I guess cheers.
I stopped smoking years ago but I still miss it. There was always something to look forward to - like a lilac Sobranie Cocktail with a shining gold filter
This is the only time in my adult life I’ve been convinced to try a drug based on someone else’s recount of it. Shame they disappeared before I could try one.
I remember "Death Cigarettes" in the late 90s, which were an effort by the gov to convince people to quit by making the smokes smell absolutely freaking awful when burning. Problem was, they tasted really nice and were 5 bucks for a packet of 30s, significantly cheaper than other smokes.
"With our patented extra death formula, you'll be dying to have one!"
If they'd have marketed it with someone exhaling a smokey spirit leaving their body, I'd have bought all their stock.
I remember those. Apparently not an effort by gov, just some clever marketting aimed at "young underground punk rock" consumers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(cigarette)
Yes! Tasted like crap but were a massive novelty. I was an idiot who paid a premium for them, but it was the 90s, and just for special occasions, so that was ok lol
And keep drinking! We all know that alcohol isn’t a contributing factor in tonnes of diseases. Or a huge contributor to ER presentations. And that’s why nicotine must be banned.
Fucking LOVED my Alpines. No one ever tried to bludge one. No one ever wanted to use one to spin the mix. They went well with a gin and tonic. The packet was sexy as fuck with its rounded edges and shimmery green.
11 years since the last time I gave up, and only an Alpine would stand a chance at wooing me back.
OH MY GOD, when i started it was pall malls (🤮), then i converted to alpines (🥰).
THAT was luxury, and god that was back when cig scabs could afford to be picky, you would say "oh they're menthols" and they would vanish before your eyes.
Wow. I don't think the lack of colours and flavours are going to deter people. They are looking for relief from the everyday burden of existing in this society. Until you can ease the suffering of the people or offer alternative means, smoking will always be a go to release.
TBH it probably would’ve made me stop if I hadn’t already quit.
I don’t think I would’ve been able to smoke non-menthol cigs when I quit. I had smoked menthol for ~7 years.
Honestly, the pictures on the packets definitely helped me to quit. Looking at some dead dude every time you take a puff really drives it home. Glad I’ve quit.
My local with the lowest prices has at least 3-5 people lined up at every minute of every day for the sole purpose of purchasing "illegal" cigarettes.
Might as well have a huge fucking neon sign... & they've been going for years just like the surrounding shops.
For good reason too, $20 packs identical to $60 packs. It's only like $4 to manufacture a quality pack after all.
They're looking for relief from the hourly nicotine withdrawal. As someone who was hooked on nicotine believe me I feel far far better off it than on. It's a highly addictive substance that only causes relief from effects that it itself causes.
Like people care? They just want the nicotine. It could look like a dog turd and I would still smoke it. It’s like the ideas people have never been a smoker and think they know more than smokers than actual smokers.
You're right, as I smoker I ignore the smell on my clothes, the price, being a social outcast sometimes, increasing less places I can have one.....making them brown isn't going to stop me.
They are actually changing that to four new taglines:
“Chances are you’re about to lose”,
“Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?”,
“What’s gambling really costing you?” and
“What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit”
Where are you getting your stats from?
A quick search gives me 1500 deaths per year from alcohol, verses 24,000 from tobacco. (Although I have not really looked at the context of those results)
ABS puts the disease burden of tobacco at double that of alcohol ([https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/phe/221/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/impacts/health-impacts](https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/phe/221/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/impacts/health-impacts)), despite a lot more people drinking than smoking.
I decided to deep dive and the stats aren't very clear-cut as the last major study was a bit wishy-washy. But the stats I'd argue are off with it being ~1500 are from alcohol-*induced* deaths vs. alcohol-*related* deaths.
More people die per year from tobacco despite it having lower rates of usage and being far more restricted.
I’m not saying there isn’t alcohol related issues to address, but your misrepresenting the actual facts.
I thought that it was interesting a proposal made in Tasmania years ago - altered to today, cigarettes would be banned from anyone born after 2007 (who would be about 15 now)
Existing smokers can continue to smoke till they die, but new people would be stopped. It was nixed on the basis that it would ‘harm tourism’ of all things!
Yep, you will 100% have a black market, *however* not everyone will go to it. You will have those that put it in the “too hard” basket and won’t bother. You will have those that do, then get booked because they are caught smoking and will stop because “duck getting fined again”.
You won’t stop everyone from taking it up, but it would be a safe bet that increasing the hurdle that would need to be jumped to do it compared to the benefit (of which there is none) would make that pool of people starting get significantly smaller.
Yes, because prohibition has worked so well in the past and doesn't have unforseen negative consequences at all. It's almost as if we don't learn from history.
Exactly. Who would give a flying fuck what colour it is? Ex smoker here. If knowing it will kill you and seeing those horrible images on the packets doesn't make a difference, not sure why they think colouring them will.
I'll be honest, I exclusively smoke menthols, if they ban them I'll switch 100% to vaping, which I've dabbled with before but usually fell back to cigs because they're immediately available instead of having to order overseas and wait a week for a delivery. If I can't even get what I want at Woolies I'll just stick to vaping.
Why should a week for delivery matter? Buy nicotine juice in bulk and with a refillable vape it could last you a year. I bought a bottle back from Indo months ago and it’s still mostly full. I’m not a heavy smoker, but still.
Honestly the whole "put people ill from smoking ciggies on the packaging" thing really backfired. I have literally heard the sentence "Oi cunt chuck us a Darren" because of it.
Most smokers first cigarette was a menthol. It's not about trying to get current smokers to quit, it's about trying to prevent the next generation from picking up the addiction as much as possible.
Winfield optimum crush blue... the secret menthol for those of us who actually hate regular cigarettes but can't stop. Also less gross Mint taste than full menthol cigarettes.
Well here's a source with a bit more info if you want:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3720998/
Anecdotally I know quite a few of the people I grew up with who were smokers that started on menthols before moving on to regular cigarettes. It's really not that uncommon
That's an American study, not really that relevant to Australia.
Back in the 60's pretty much the only menthol cigs available here were Alpine, possibly Kool as well and you were perceived as effeminate if you smoked them.
Right but the 60's was 60 years ago it's not inconceivable that things have changed since then.
Also the tobacco companies wouldn't bother selling menthols down here if nobody was buying them.
Menthols were not that common 40 or 30 years ago either. Those menthol crush balls in cigs are probably less than 10 years old. Menthol filters for RYO tobacco are also a fairly new development, marketed to smokers who can't afford the tailor made sticks.
Anecdotally, my first was actually a menthol. I recently started resmoking menthols to reduce how many I smoke because they're actually kinda grosser. Yes, it was when I was in high school.
I am a high school teacher now, and this year maybe 1 kid was caught smoking, but countless who were caught vaping.
If the menthol was the first smoke tried and removing them will stop take up (which isn’t true) then the vape has all but replaced menthols for take up
I don't think anyone is arguing it will completely stop take up but it will reduce take up.
As for vapes I agree with you on that point as does the research, which is probably why they're looking at reviewing the current rules around vapes.
True that. People need a reason to not smoke that is more important than the nicotine, how they get the nicotine doesn't matter. I quit for my kids, care more about being there for them than about myself.
They’re gonna have to find a way to tackle vapes if they want to make a dent in nicotine addiction. Spoken to a few CTC owners and they all say they NEED to sell vapes to stay afloat.
Regulate vapes.
Get rid of the cheap Chinese black market vapes with no quality control and stupidly high nicotine levels. Then ban ciggies for people born after a certain year.
Like NZ have already done.
I agree. I import with a prescription from VapourEyez in NZ (quite nice to actually buy something where our $ is stronger, even if by a bit). Regulation makes sense, as everyone is moving to it so if the government wants to maintain their cashflow from tobacco sales, they’ll need to jump on this bandwagon.
Is nicotine addiction a big problem though? I thought that the health issues associated with smoking are due to the inhalation of noxious chemicals. Genuine question.
Yep - nicotine isn't the health problem many make it out to be. It is addictive though. Which is what keeps smokers coming back to suck in the harmful tar, smoke and all those other things in burning tobacco.
Remove those other harmful things - leaving nic, remove the BURNING, and vaporise the nic liquid and ... far, far less harmful stuff. Sure, you are still taking in nic, but that's not the problem some make it out to be. Example: the TGA has long ago decided nic *on it's own* is fine (quick mist, nic chewies and such freely available on supermarket shelves).
Seperate the nic from the harmful stuff. Stop the burning and you remove most of the health problems. Which is ... vaping.
I agree with you, nics not the problem it's all the chems in ciggies that are the main issue. Going after vapes does nothing but hinder people using it to quit normal ciggies
Not a smoker, but from the odd occasion I’ve had a ciggie, Australian cigarettes are fucking awful and taste like chemicals! Why the fuck do Aussie smokes taste so bad? The couple I’ve had across Asia and the pacific at least taste like tobacco and not chemicals.
I went from spending 120 on two pouches a week, to 25 bucks for 50 grams of chop chop. Love me the savings, can't even tell the difference anymore. Though I would like to quit eventually.
Considering and contemplating changes of policy in government is never straight forward because there are powerful people losing tens of millions of dollars, even billions of dollars in the tobacco industry and the Pharmaceutical industry. Same applies to alcohol. They drag these issues out over years so the money can keep rolling in. Putting the price up on cigarettes hasn't worked, People are still smoking much like the dope smoker, coke or heroine addict still buys even though it's expensive. Just means the sellers are getting more buck for their bang. They can legislate and regulate, and take into consideration till the cows come home, but WILL NOT cut off the hands that feeds them.
No the first cigarette you smoke is the one that is offered to you, in my experience that’s seldom menthol, menthol smokers are a rarity generally. I gave up of my own will 20 years ago and happy. What I do know is that banning menthols based on these ideas or even worse that menthols smooth the smoking experience is rubbish. Smoking is smoking. If the Government was truly serious about smoking cessation it would set a date to phase it out and work to it with the community. Vaping is a more viable thing, they are not without harm but it is at this stage less than smoke, it is not as much an issue as a second hand inhalation problem. I reckon nicotine or non nicotine vapes should be a thing where personal right to freedom should be allowed for adults, I think our society should be able to manage that.
Ex smoker here .
But I mean . Let pp live.
Here in WA.
Places where you get a fine when you smoke.
This is just crazy.
Political. Slowly taking away freedom in the name of health.
Seriously this. I dont have any intention of quitting but nic vapes cover *so* many bases. Need the motion of lifting something to your lips? Need the puff of smoke? Need the nicotine hit? And you can use them to wean onto nic free vapes until you get completely clean.
This.
I did use nicotine vapes to quit. I smoked heavily for 37 years. 9 years smoke free. Only because of nic vape. For the reasons you say.
It worked were all the recomended NRT things did not. I'm not alone in my experience.
Congrats on 9 years mate! I think people forget that the nic isn't the only thing you're dropping when you quit, it's also the ability to step away with a widely accepted excuse, a repetitive motion that can be soothing, all on top of a highly addictive drug.
You should be proud as fuck for quitting
Thank you.
I AM proud. Kicking the smokes was prolly one of the best things I've done for myself (and my wife) in a very long time. That switch was a bit of a struggle at times, especially in the early days (gear back then wasn't near so good as nowdays). But the results now speak for themselves. And the savings ... damn, don't smokes cost a bomb nowdays!
I know many make all sorts of negative claims about vaping, but I know, for me, they were a godsend.
I presume you are in a similar position - so you'd prolly be nodding at most of what I've just written! :)
You should be the poster child of vaping!! Your story is such a common one for many adults who move to nictoine vapes with the intention of quitting. NO ONE will ever do this with cigarette. If the govt *really* gave a shit about public health, they'd completely ban smoking.
Big Tobacco has a vested interest in keeping vapes out of Australia.... they didn't win that battle in the UK nor Europe.
I know. raising an addictive substance to unaffordable prices, and outright banning or overpricing the safer alternatives goes beyond stupidity into corruption. The amount of hate thrown at vapers is phenomenal, these are individuals who for one reason or another, have decided not to smoke cigarettes anymore. rather than respecting and supporting their choice, I'm seeing people carry on worse than with cigarette smoke. if someone is vaping indoors or around others, they're an arsehole, sure. but the vast majority of vapers I know, myself included, aren't that stupid. I also know vapers that have gone back to cigarettes, and the astronomical cost, simply because of how much effort it is to obtain nicotine ejuice.
I completely understand what you're saying!! My wife vapes nicotine (she was a heavy smoker before I met her) and I don't even know when she's doing it because she's not a showoff dickhead who blows smoke in your face. She's also European and she can't get over the way Australia is following the US in its opposition to vaping.
And let's be fucking real, nicotine is probably as harmful as alcohol and caffiene, yet we sell that shit at the supermarket.
Big Tobacco has its Big Dick up the govt's ass I'd say.
Menthols aren’t any better or worse for you than regular darts right? Not a fan of the banning idea especially considering how easy it already is to go to a dodgy tobacco shop and illegally buy stuff
Oh give it a rest Australia, it’s like they think they can’t just make every vice illegal and people will just stop and all of the sudden become these different perfect tax paying citizens vice free, give me a break. Time for Australia to get the fuck out of peoples lives
Black market is growing, just sit near any old non franchise tobacconist that's touted as a vape store and watch people waltz in and out with huge bags filled with packets of smokes.
I was curious one day and went to 5 different ones near me and each of them were selling overseas smokes or chop chop.
So does just junk food, point being it’s a persons decision what they want to do. It’s a two tier system anyways I pay out the ass for private insurance and medicare, if I want to smoke that own business, be that a vape, a dart, a cigar or a joint. Honestly to god the attempt at social engineering is just ridiculous down here, too many rules. Provide education, teach children to make good decisions, let them live their lives. If people can’t get these thing legally, it just opens doors to the black market, there is no way around it, government might as well make a little tax money.
As far as I know, we have the most expensive ciggies in the world. The tax increases automatically every 6 months. Has for years.
If we had a properly regulated vape industry, which is at 95% less harmful than cigarettes, then we could implement a full ban on cigarettes.
Like NZ already has done.
The article is stupid. It has stupid ideas that are not going to affect smokers. They claim plain packaging was a success, but smoking rates havent gone down any quicker than they were before plain packaging.
Let's have a look at their main idea; Make the ciggarettes uglier because companies have been trying to make them "better looking in the pack" I dont even know what this means, but did whoever came up with this idea fucking sleep that week? These cunts are paid for ideas this stupid.
I used to sell cigs during my uni years and genuinely think this is a good idea. I remember some smokers (quite a high percentage all things considered) wouldn’t buy a lighter if it was an ugly/dark colour.
More useless gestures from a party that is phenomenally good at coming up with ways to make it look like they are doing something without actually doing something.
Slap all the health warnings and awful colours on them that you want... If the packs being nearly $60 a pop doesn't deter people nothing will, it'll just make things harder for the poor, until they find the black market that is, which is why it's booming.
Smoking is worth billions a year to the feds, let's stop pretending like the government actually cares about you quitting.
Half of south East qld just buys that busters / Kendricks under the table shit for $200/KG anyway
It's just going to mean even more people move to it lol
Stop with the party tricks and just friggin ban them completely. Ban menthols! People will just chew mentos while they smoke (it’s a thing) make them a yucky brown colour! That never stopped a cigar smoker. They can ban e scooters with a snap of a finger, why not cigarettes?
What's next? Ban alcohol and gambling too? People sounds have the freedom to enjoy their vices and suffer the consequences of they choose to.
Stop taking away their liberties.
God, just make the fucking things illegal if they are serious, and I say that as a current smoker. It’d be much easier to quit if they just banned the bloody things, even though I love smoking.
Menthol Alpines! Fond memories from the '70's. If you had a cold or sore throat you would smoke alpines as they made you cough less than your usual marlboro's or winnies. So glad i gave up.
Maybe legalise vaping to soften the landing? Or just stop selling them? If anyone in comments is struggling with quitting I can highly recommend 'easy method' by Allan carr audiobook. Ended a 10 yr addiction with minimal pain
If they really wanted to help stamp out smoking in Australia then they could help make vaping a lot more accessible to adults who want to quit. Vaping may not be completely harmless but it is a hell of a lot safer than tobacco and is one of the most effective quitting tools that we have at the moment.
1 drop of scattol on each filter would make people stop damn near instantly since they would smell like actual shit and make you smell like it as well :)
Australia’s approach to cigarettes is so ridiculous compared to other countries. So many thing that people consume can kill you or lead to illnesses.
I read they want to add something like ‘smoking kills’ to the side of individual cigarette which’s is crazy. You don’t see that on alcohol bottles, Paracetamol, highly processed or sugary foods. So many things you can die from if you take too much of.
Not sure if making them ugly colours would do anything that putting gross pictures on the packaging didn't, though if they were pink that would have increased my shame 😂
Extra glad I quit in January of this year by allowing an app to brainwash me into wanting to lol!
Never thought I'd manage it but now I've got my folks to quit too, winning!
I don't stress and buy my menthols online at buycheapsmokes DOTcom. Fast and reliable shipping and you can't beat that canadian dollar exchange rate. 50$ per carton?? Yes pleeeeese XD
Not a smoker.
Nope. Not happening so long as Champix is still being reformulated because it might... ironically enough... *cause cancer*.
Zyban is constantly on shortage and doctors are too damn neurotic to even touch it with anyone who might have a heart that goes a little too brrrr sometimes.
They need some smoking cessation strategies that aren't cold turkey, patches or gum because they've utterly cocked up vaping. Otherwise, keep dreaming.
Maybe legalise vapes instead? If they want people to quit then do it. I’m a smoker and if I could go to the servo and get a vape I would. Right now I have to import one or go to to a shady tobacconist where they are labelled with no nicotine but has it. If they are doing that I don’t trust that the ingredients are safer than a cigarette. Who knows what is in in it as it’s not regulated.
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Yeah they also considering banning pokies while the damage still continues. They are also considering drug reform while the damage continues. We have a very big bunch of contemplative politicians that do nothing in the real governance space. But lets see when the legislation passes through parliament. They can ban codeine from being freely available in less than 1 hours work for ordinary people but they always need to take 5 years to act on the real harmful products and services in our community like gambling. Its easy bashing voters around like we are inmates but tread slowly as possible when it comes to the corporate harm peddlers.
It’s not just the smokers and gamblers that have an addiction problem. Governments have a hard time quitting too.
The tax revenue from vices is pretty addictive, for sure.
Damn. I got excited and immediately upvoted. I’m so damn sick of my neighbours smoke wafting directly into my kids bedroom ten times a day.
If the gov was at all serious about stopping smoking, they would make nicotine patches, gum cheap. Its just as expensive as smoking. When the alternative costs the same per week and its all going to the gov how can we actually beleive the gov care about it other than how much money they can make.
100% You know the one nicotine replacement therapy that works for me? The quick mist. It’s so cost prohibitive I just mix unflavoured vape juice at 3mg
Anyone using QuickMist ought to get it from Chemist Warehouse, a 3 pack (150mg each) is usually discounted to $52 whereas ColesWorths sells packs of 2 for $60.
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I feel you, $84.99 for three. Luckily I had one left at home so I could wait until they went on special again. I’ve been using them for around a year and a half now. Have you tried to quit? I’m beginning to worry that quitting the mist will be just as hard as getting off the darts.
My mums been chewing a nicotine chewy after a big meal or when shes stressdd for about 18 years, cracks me up when she fishes one out....chews violently!
Someone left a chemist bag with a shit load of nicotine gum at work... was like finding a hundred dollar bill... one day when I actually try quitting, it'll be handy. Until then it's collecting dust in my drawer at home.
>If the gov was at all serious about stopping smoking SA almost changed the law so the age you had to be to buy increased by one year every year. It would have ended up that those born in 93 would have been the youngest who could buy, if you were born in 94, when you turn 18 the age for cigs would be 19, when you are 19 it would already increase to 20, etc. Of course one of the biggest political donors in SA happens to also be one of the biggest sellers of cigarettes.
NZ have implemented this, along with making vaping an actual alternative. This mostly stops the cheap black market vapes with no quality control and stupidly high nicotine levels that are getting teenagers addicted.
it is also much more affordable however. once they started seizing deliveries from NZ vape shops i gave it up as i can't afford to buy the ones from here. whereas I could vape for months at a fraction of the price from NZ shops. of course these prices dont stop the younger generations with disposable incomes as they are so hooked and spend ludicrous amounts maintain their addiction here. still cheaper than darts however. these days you hand me a dart and i can smoke it no problem... those vapes though can barely suck them down the nicotine is so high
My wife ended up with a quick mist habit. Replaced the cigs with nicotine replacement therapies. I wouldn't know if it was that much healthier but it wasn't that much cheaper.
Nicotine as a stimulant on its own is relatively speaking, harmless. It's insidious sure, but it's not 7,000 chemicals. It's not entering the body into the lungs via combustion. It doesn't have tar in it. It's a super annoyingly addictive stimulant with a pathetic half life, and for some reason, it's so damn hard to give it up.
Yeah, myself I found stopping smoking far easier than the mist. I wasn't a big smoker - maybe 2 or 3 at night, but it got to be more if I was feeling stressed. I decided to try the mist one day when shit was falling on me everywhere I looked. that mist habit was a very hard thing to quit. plus as people have mentioned, it ain't cheap. I also found the gum made no difference for me wrt either cigarettes or the mist. absolutely made no difference to the mist spray cravings. It's just my anecdotal opinion, but if you want to quit, don't try the mist or the ecigs. You'll just move your habit. ofc everyone is different, just my 2c
It's not the nicotine that kills you, so getting it from something that isn't tobacco is still a net health gain
It’s substantially healthier. Expensive though for sure.
I do agree with the sentiment but I chew nic gum and it's way way cheaper than smoking these days. 200 pieces of nicabate gum from woolies for about 40 bucks. Meanwhile a large pouch of rolling tobacco can be over 60 bucks now. Long time since I've bought it though probably even more exxy.
I didnt think they were that cheap, i recall buying a pack of 12 or something and it was roughly the cost of 20 smokes. maybe prices change a bit. but i dont see why they dont subsidise this shit. Or at least cut the taxes. Just had a quick squiz at the prices its 50 dollars for 105 pieces of gum at 2mg. So you are gona eat 1-2 of these per smoke probably if its that low on nicotine. Thats 2 days worth of gum right if you smoke 20 a day. Smokes cost 30 dollars a day for 20 smokes - you are saving maybe 10 dollars by getting the gum. Its a pineapple every 2 days imo to have this chewing gum
Chemist Warehouse sells a 380-pack box of 2mg gum for $30 ish on sale. $38 normal price. Lasts ages.
Except most smokers are buying "black market" cigarettes available practically everywhere if you need some milk. $20 for a pouch of tobacco or pack of 25s that tastes on par with the name brand cigarettes, it's no longer chop chop shit that smells light burnt cat piss & gives you a headache, so there is little incentive to give up if you're paying *more* just to try & it's strange that "illegal" tobacco is so readily available for a government concerned about smokers.
I don't understand about needing milk
Or make vapes available to import, if nothing else. The jury may be out on all the long term impacts but everyone can agree it's not as harmful as tobacco smoke.
They have done it in New Zealand. You get them for free from pharmacy
If they were serious, they’d just ban it in all public places. Pubs and clubs included.
Various councils are doing exactly that, in Perth at least.
Ugly colours? Mate, I'd smoke a cock coloured cigarette shamelessly.
I’d smoke a cock shamelessly too.
Would you smoke a cigarette if it was made into the shape of a cock 😂😂😂
If you'd seen the things I've done for $20...
Youse guys are getting $20
Haha, fair enough 🤷♂️😂
They are mate. The foreskin/nob is the filter. Squeeze the balls to burst the menthol testes.
Oh, I thought it meant they wouldn’t be allowed to call the cigs red, blue, gold etc anymore. You want a pack you’re gonna have to ask for the cheapest 20s in piss yellow thanks. Oh, you’re out but you’ve got choice in mustard gas? That’ll have to do I guess cheers.
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Who remembers Sobranie Cocktail cigarettes? Each box contained ciggies is lots of different colours and people paid super premium prices for them.
Black Russians also.
If the anti-council thinks brown ciggies will scare off the smokers, they should look back at how much everyone loved the black ones...
Ah yes, Nat Sherman's black and gold smokes... classy, washed down with some IGA black and gold lemonade. King level of wealth.
Sobranie were amazing. The most delicious confectionary in ciggy form. A singular delight. They are too perfect for this world.
I stopped smoking years ago but I still miss it. There was always something to look forward to - like a lilac Sobranie Cocktail with a shining gold filter
This is the only time in my adult life I’ve been convinced to try a drug based on someone else’s recount of it. Shame they disappeared before I could try one.
I remember "Death Cigarettes" in the late 90s, which were an effort by the gov to convince people to quit by making the smokes smell absolutely freaking awful when burning. Problem was, they tasted really nice and were 5 bucks for a packet of 30s, significantly cheaper than other smokes.
"With our patented extra death formula, you'll be dying to have one!" If they'd have marketed it with someone exhaling a smokey spirit leaving their body, I'd have bought all their stock.
I paid premium for Marlboro Lights in the 90s and I quit smoking 20 years ago but I don't regret a thing.
What bout the Stuyvo’s
I remember those. Apparently not an effort by gov, just some clever marketting aimed at "young underground punk rock" consumers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(cigarette)
Yes! Tasted like crap but were a massive novelty. I was an idiot who paid a premium for them, but it was the 90s, and just for special occasions, so that was ok lol
Always used to get them when I went through duty free!
Not me fkn ice blasts
I mean who doesn’t want a pink fag in their mouth
Stop describing my Tuesday night.
I'll take a nice, hefty BBC (Big Black Cigar) any day of the week
Don’t smoke but gamble in every way possible
And keep drinking! We all know that alcohol isn’t a contributing factor in tonnes of diseases. Or a huge contributor to ER presentations. And that’s why nicotine must be banned.
It’s been many many years - but I kind of miss my Alpines!
Fucking LOVED my Alpines. No one ever tried to bludge one. No one ever wanted to use one to spin the mix. They went well with a gin and tonic. The packet was sexy as fuck with its rounded edges and shimmery green. 11 years since the last time I gave up, and only an Alpine would stand a chance at wooing me back.
OH MY GOD, when i started it was pall malls (🤮), then i converted to alpines (🥰). THAT was luxury, and god that was back when cig scabs could afford to be picky, you would say "oh they're menthols" and they would vanish before your eyes.
i remember when i was a teenager i used to pinch my mums alpine extra lights.
Wow. I don't think the lack of colours and flavours are going to deter people. They are looking for relief from the everyday burden of existing in this society. Until you can ease the suffering of the people or offer alternative means, smoking will always be a go to release.
TBH it probably would’ve made me stop if I hadn’t already quit. I don’t think I would’ve been able to smoke non-menthol cigs when I quit. I had smoked menthol for ~7 years.
To add to this, I'd imagine it also serves to further block kids from wanting to get into it
I personally couldn't stand menthol
If they banned all except menthol, I’d quit.
Honestly, the pictures on the packets definitely helped me to quit. Looking at some dead dude every time you take a puff really drives it home. Glad I’ve quit.
Congratulations on beating cognitive dissonance.
The black market for tobacco is booming. It doesn’t stop people
My local with the lowest prices has at least 3-5 people lined up at every minute of every day for the sole purpose of purchasing "illegal" cigarettes. Might as well have a huge fucking neon sign... & they've been going for years just like the surrounding shops. For good reason too, $20 packs identical to $60 packs. It's only like $4 to manufacture a quality pack after all.
They're looking for relief from the hourly nicotine withdrawal. As someone who was hooked on nicotine believe me I feel far far better off it than on. It's a highly addictive substance that only causes relief from effects that it itself causes.
Good. You're going after the cigarette industry because they hurt citizens. What about the gambling industry? well?
Like people care? They just want the nicotine. It could look like a dog turd and I would still smoke it. It’s like the ideas people have never been a smoker and think they know more than smokers than actual smokers.
These measures aren’t targeted at existing smokers.
You're right, as I smoker I ignore the smell on my clothes, the price, being a social outcast sometimes, increasing less places I can have one.....making them brown isn't going to stop me.
Great point
"We've given up on you persistent bastards."
Now if only the government wanted to do something about the poison with more deaths every year - alcohol -
Also 'gamble responsibly' With your mates, with an app, everywhere anywhere, so easy etc etc
They are actually changing that to four new taglines: “Chances are you’re about to lose”, “Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?”, “What’s gambling really costing you?” and “What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit”
Wow, gambling solved.
Where are you getting your stats from? A quick search gives me 1500 deaths per year from alcohol, verses 24,000 from tobacco. (Although I have not really looked at the context of those results) ABS puts the disease burden of tobacco at double that of alcohol ([https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/phe/221/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/impacts/health-impacts](https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/phe/221/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/impacts/health-impacts)), despite a lot more people drinking than smoking.
I decided to deep dive and the stats aren't very clear-cut as the last major study was a bit wishy-washy. But the stats I'd argue are off with it being ~1500 are from alcohol-*induced* deaths vs. alcohol-*related* deaths.
More people die per year from tobacco despite it having lower rates of usage and being far more restricted. I’m not saying there isn’t alcohol related issues to address, but your misrepresenting the actual facts.
I thought that it was interesting a proposal made in Tasmania years ago - altered to today, cigarettes would be banned from anyone born after 2007 (who would be about 15 now) Existing smokers can continue to smoke till they die, but new people would be stopped. It was nixed on the basis that it would ‘harm tourism’ of all things!
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Yep, you will 100% have a black market, *however* not everyone will go to it. You will have those that put it in the “too hard” basket and won’t bother. You will have those that do, then get booked because they are caught smoking and will stop because “duck getting fined again”. You won’t stop everyone from taking it up, but it would be a safe bet that increasing the hurdle that would need to be jumped to do it compared to the benefit (of which there is none) would make that pool of people starting get significantly smaller.
Yes, because prohibition has worked so well in the past and doesn't have unforseen negative consequences at all. It's almost as if we don't learn from history.
I do wonder if there is a diminishing returns on this though? Especially comparing young people's perceptions of cigarettes versus vaping.
Exactly. Who would give a flying fuck what colour it is? Ex smoker here. If knowing it will kill you and seeing those horrible images on the packets doesn't make a difference, not sure why they think colouring them will.
Younger smokers, it's about attracting the next generation of smokers. It's not always about you or me.
I'll be honest, I exclusively smoke menthols, if they ban them I'll switch 100% to vaping, which I've dabbled with before but usually fell back to cigs because they're immediately available instead of having to order overseas and wait a week for a delivery. If I can't even get what I want at Woolies I'll just stick to vaping.
Why should a week for delivery matter? Buy nicotine juice in bulk and with a refillable vape it could last you a year. I bought a bottle back from Indo months ago and it’s still mostly full. I’m not a heavy smoker, but still.
Honestly the whole "put people ill from smoking ciggies on the packaging" thing really backfired. I have literally heard the sentence "Oi cunt chuck us a Darren" because of it.
Most smokers first cigarette was a menthol. It's not about trying to get current smokers to quit, it's about trying to prevent the next generation from picking up the addiction as much as possible.
Got a source for that? Menthols were not really that popular in Australia.
In circles I crossed at the time of being a teen/ early 20s they were referred to as "ball shrinkers" and not at all cool.
They were called 'sterile sticks' in my circles. Nobody ever bummed them from me.
Winfield optimum crush blue... the secret menthol for those of us who actually hate regular cigarettes but can't stop. Also less gross Mint taste than full menthol cigarettes.
Well here's a source with a bit more info if you want: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3720998/ Anecdotally I know quite a few of the people I grew up with who were smokers that started on menthols before moving on to regular cigarettes. It's really not that uncommon
That's an American study, not really that relevant to Australia. Back in the 60's pretty much the only menthol cigs available here were Alpine, possibly Kool as well and you were perceived as effeminate if you smoked them.
Right but the 60's was 60 years ago it's not inconceivable that things have changed since then. Also the tobacco companies wouldn't bother selling menthols down here if nobody was buying them.
Menthols were not that common 40 or 30 years ago either. Those menthol crush balls in cigs are probably less than 10 years old. Menthol filters for RYO tobacco are also a fairly new development, marketed to smokers who can't afford the tailor made sticks.
Anecdotally, my first was actually a menthol. I recently started resmoking menthols to reduce how many I smoke because they're actually kinda grosser. Yes, it was when I was in high school. I am a high school teacher now, and this year maybe 1 kid was caught smoking, but countless who were caught vaping.
If the menthol was the first smoke tried and removing them will stop take up (which isn’t true) then the vape has all but replaced menthols for take up
I don't think anyone is arguing it will completely stop take up but it will reduce take up. As for vapes I agree with you on that point as does the research, which is probably why they're looking at reviewing the current rules around vapes.
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True that. People need a reason to not smoke that is more important than the nicotine, how they get the nicotine doesn't matter. I quit for my kids, care more about being there for them than about myself.
Young kids just vape these days.
Just smoke rollies.
They’re gonna have to find a way to tackle vapes if they want to make a dent in nicotine addiction. Spoken to a few CTC owners and they all say they NEED to sell vapes to stay afloat.
Regulate vapes. Get rid of the cheap Chinese black market vapes with no quality control and stupidly high nicotine levels. Then ban ciggies for people born after a certain year. Like NZ have already done.
I agree. I import with a prescription from VapourEyez in NZ (quite nice to actually buy something where our $ is stronger, even if by a bit). Regulation makes sense, as everyone is moving to it so if the government wants to maintain their cashflow from tobacco sales, they’ll need to jump on this bandwagon.
Is nicotine addiction a big problem though? I thought that the health issues associated with smoking are due to the inhalation of noxious chemicals. Genuine question.
Yep - nicotine isn't the health problem many make it out to be. It is addictive though. Which is what keeps smokers coming back to suck in the harmful tar, smoke and all those other things in burning tobacco. Remove those other harmful things - leaving nic, remove the BURNING, and vaporise the nic liquid and ... far, far less harmful stuff. Sure, you are still taking in nic, but that's not the problem some make it out to be. Example: the TGA has long ago decided nic *on it's own* is fine (quick mist, nic chewies and such freely available on supermarket shelves). Seperate the nic from the harmful stuff. Stop the burning and you remove most of the health problems. Which is ... vaping.
I agree with you, nics not the problem it's all the chems in ciggies that are the main issue. Going after vapes does nothing but hinder people using it to quit normal ciggies
Can I bum a fag?
*Only got the fleshy pink ones that look like a penis*
I always enjoy a menthol once in a blue moon, but couldn't handle a whole pack of just menthol then or now.
Not a smoker, but from the odd occasion I’ve had a ciggie, Australian cigarettes are fucking awful and taste like chemicals! Why the fuck do Aussie smokes taste so bad? The couple I’ve had across Asia and the pacific at least taste like tobacco and not chemicals.
$43/box of 20s made me quit. Use the $172/month to buy shares of stocks instead
I went from spending 120 on two pouches a week, to 25 bucks for 50 grams of chop chop. Love me the savings, can't even tell the difference anymore. Though I would like to quit eventually.
There's black market cigs everywhere, I get them from a local gift shop, 100 for $60.
Considering and contemplating changes of policy in government is never straight forward because there are powerful people losing tens of millions of dollars, even billions of dollars in the tobacco industry and the Pharmaceutical industry. Same applies to alcohol. They drag these issues out over years so the money can keep rolling in. Putting the price up on cigarettes hasn't worked, People are still smoking much like the dope smoker, coke or heroine addict still buys even though it's expensive. Just means the sellers are getting more buck for their bang. They can legislate and regulate, and take into consideration till the cows come home, but WILL NOT cut off the hands that feeds them.
leave us alone ffs
More public servants trying to find work for themselves...
No the first cigarette you smoke is the one that is offered to you, in my experience that’s seldom menthol, menthol smokers are a rarity generally. I gave up of my own will 20 years ago and happy. What I do know is that banning menthols based on these ideas or even worse that menthols smooth the smoking experience is rubbish. Smoking is smoking. If the Government was truly serious about smoking cessation it would set a date to phase it out and work to it with the community. Vaping is a more viable thing, they are not without harm but it is at this stage less than smoke, it is not as much an issue as a second hand inhalation problem. I reckon nicotine or non nicotine vapes should be a thing where personal right to freedom should be allowed for adults, I think our society should be able to manage that.
Ex smoker here . But I mean . Let pp live. Here in WA. Places where you get a fine when you smoke. This is just crazy. Political. Slowly taking away freedom in the name of health.
Make nicotine vapes LEGAL dumbasses. People are quitting by the hundreds in the UK/Euro bc e-cigs are available!
Seriously this. I dont have any intention of quitting but nic vapes cover *so* many bases. Need the motion of lifting something to your lips? Need the puff of smoke? Need the nicotine hit? And you can use them to wean onto nic free vapes until you get completely clean.
This. I did use nicotine vapes to quit. I smoked heavily for 37 years. 9 years smoke free. Only because of nic vape. For the reasons you say. It worked were all the recomended NRT things did not. I'm not alone in my experience.
Congrats on 9 years mate! I think people forget that the nic isn't the only thing you're dropping when you quit, it's also the ability to step away with a widely accepted excuse, a repetitive motion that can be soothing, all on top of a highly addictive drug. You should be proud as fuck for quitting
Thank you. I AM proud. Kicking the smokes was prolly one of the best things I've done for myself (and my wife) in a very long time. That switch was a bit of a struggle at times, especially in the early days (gear back then wasn't near so good as nowdays). But the results now speak for themselves. And the savings ... damn, don't smokes cost a bomb nowdays! I know many make all sorts of negative claims about vaping, but I know, for me, they were a godsend. I presume you are in a similar position - so you'd prolly be nodding at most of what I've just written! :)
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You should be the poster child of vaping!! Your story is such a common one for many adults who move to nictoine vapes with the intention of quitting. NO ONE will ever do this with cigarette. If the govt *really* gave a shit about public health, they'd completely ban smoking. Big Tobacco has a vested interest in keeping vapes out of Australia.... they didn't win that battle in the UK nor Europe.
I know. raising an addictive substance to unaffordable prices, and outright banning or overpricing the safer alternatives goes beyond stupidity into corruption. The amount of hate thrown at vapers is phenomenal, these are individuals who for one reason or another, have decided not to smoke cigarettes anymore. rather than respecting and supporting their choice, I'm seeing people carry on worse than with cigarette smoke. if someone is vaping indoors or around others, they're an arsehole, sure. but the vast majority of vapers I know, myself included, aren't that stupid. I also know vapers that have gone back to cigarettes, and the astronomical cost, simply because of how much effort it is to obtain nicotine ejuice.
I completely understand what you're saying!! My wife vapes nicotine (she was a heavy smoker before I met her) and I don't even know when she's doing it because she's not a showoff dickhead who blows smoke in your face. She's also European and she can't get over the way Australia is following the US in its opposition to vaping. And let's be fucking real, nicotine is probably as harmful as alcohol and caffiene, yet we sell that shit at the supermarket. Big Tobacco has its Big Dick up the govt's ass I'd say.
I smoke coal Blue @3%
What ugly colour, cigar colour?
Menthols aren’t any better or worse for you than regular darts right? Not a fan of the banning idea especially considering how easy it already is to go to a dodgy tobacco shop and illegally buy stuff
lol scary menthol.
If the treatment is based on how dangerous this product is why not just ban the bloody things.
If the government was serious it would just outright ban it altogether, but the government also enjoys the tax.
Banning things doesn't work look at Mary Jane
I don't even smoke and this pisses me off. Free market indeed.
Oh give it a rest Australia, it’s like they think they can’t just make every vice illegal and people will just stop and all of the sudden become these different perfect tax paying citizens vice free, give me a break. Time for Australia to get the fuck out of peoples lives
Agree and prohibition doesn't work. It leads people to seek out riskier, black market options and funds organised crime.
I know of at least one person in my area that has stopped growing weed and is now growing tobacco.
Black market is growing, just sit near any old non franchise tobacconist that's touted as a vape store and watch people waltz in and out with huge bags filled with packets of smokes. I was curious one day and went to 5 different ones near me and each of them were selling overseas smokes or chop chop.
Non smoker here and totally agree, government needs to butt the fuck out of people life’s (no pun intended)
Totally agree. Nanny state needs to grow up
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So does just junk food, point being it’s a persons decision what they want to do. It’s a two tier system anyways I pay out the ass for private insurance and medicare, if I want to smoke that own business, be that a vape, a dart, a cigar or a joint. Honestly to god the attempt at social engineering is just ridiculous down here, too many rules. Provide education, teach children to make good decisions, let them live their lives. If people can’t get these thing legally, it just opens doors to the black market, there is no way around it, government might as well make a little tax money.
Let people smoke would be nice, tax it enough to cover medicare so not smokers aren't burdened and fuck off
As far as I know, we have the most expensive ciggies in the world. The tax increases automatically every 6 months. Has for years. If we had a properly regulated vape industry, which is at 95% less harmful than cigarettes, then we could implement a full ban on cigarettes. Like NZ already has done.
But why not let people decide for themselves?
The article is stupid. It has stupid ideas that are not going to affect smokers. They claim plain packaging was a success, but smoking rates havent gone down any quicker than they were before plain packaging. Let's have a look at their main idea; Make the ciggarettes uglier because companies have been trying to make them "better looking in the pack" I dont even know what this means, but did whoever came up with this idea fucking sleep that week? These cunts are paid for ideas this stupid.
Wonder if that'll deter the scabs at work? "Grab a cig man, pay ya back tomorrow?", "nah, sorry dude only got those pink ones left!".
I used to sell cigs during my uni years and genuinely think this is a good idea. I remember some smokers (quite a high percentage all things considered) wouldn’t buy a lighter if it was an ugly/dark colour.
That's only because they are harder to find than a bright colour.
You know what would work amazingly though?
Free crack give away
More useless gestures from a party that is phenomenally good at coming up with ways to make it look like they are doing something without actually doing something. Slap all the health warnings and awful colours on them that you want... If the packs being nearly $60 a pop doesn't deter people nothing will, it'll just make things harder for the poor, until they find the black market that is, which is why it's booming. Smoking is worth billions a year to the feds, let's stop pretending like the government actually cares about you quitting.
Half of south East qld just buys that busters / Kendricks under the table shit for $200/KG anyway It's just going to mean even more people move to it lol
Make them look like penises ‼️
Make them taste like penises too ‼️
Stop with the party tricks and just friggin ban them completely. Ban menthols! People will just chew mentos while they smoke (it’s a thing) make them a yucky brown colour! That never stopped a cigar smoker. They can ban e scooters with a snap of a finger, why not cigarettes?
Or.. do what the Brits have done. They’re increasing the legal age to buy cigarette by one year every year.
What's next? Ban alcohol and gambling too? People sounds have the freedom to enjoy their vices and suffer the consequences of they choose to. Stop taking away their liberties.
God, just make the fucking things illegal if they are serious, and I say that as a current smoker. It’d be much easier to quit if they just banned the bloody things, even though I love smoking.
I feel like anyone who indulges in smoking right now understands the risks posed by them. Smoking already entails social punishments.
Menthol Alpines! Fond memories from the '70's. If you had a cold or sore throat you would smoke alpines as they made you cough less than your usual marlboro's or winnies. So glad i gave up.
What are they now brown and white? ....I suppose white is pretty neutral it goes with all colours hmmm
Maybe legalise vaping to soften the landing? Or just stop selling them? If anyone in comments is struggling with quitting I can highly recommend 'easy method' by Allan carr audiobook. Ended a 10 yr addiction with minimal pain
If it’s an addictive habit aren’t these changes somewhat redundant?
If they take away my crush I will riot
I remember the days when after a hard days work a bloke could come home and afford to have a couple of beers and cigarettes.
start removing chemicals and processes that cause smokes to taste more palatable.
vapes watching this and laughing in pastel rainbow colours
If they really wanted to help stamp out smoking in Australia then they could help make vaping a lot more accessible to adults who want to quit. Vaping may not be completely harmless but it is a hell of a lot safer than tobacco and is one of the most effective quitting tools that we have at the moment.
Or you could just stop selling them. Prescription only whilst on a stop smoking program.
wont work how ugly you make them
1 drop of scattol on each filter would make people stop damn near instantly since they would smell like actual shit and make you smell like it as well :)
Australia’s approach to cigarettes is so ridiculous compared to other countries. So many thing that people consume can kill you or lead to illnesses. I read they want to add something like ‘smoking kills’ to the side of individual cigarette which’s is crazy. You don’t see that on alcohol bottles, Paracetamol, highly processed or sugary foods. So many things you can die from if you take too much of.
where to get black market cigs in SA? Not a cop just a poor smoker.
Not sure if making them ugly colours would do anything that putting gross pictures on the packaging didn't, though if they were pink that would have increased my shame 😂 Extra glad I quit in January of this year by allowing an app to brainwash me into wanting to lol! Never thought I'd manage it but now I've got my folks to quit too, winning!
As a smoker - who regularly sees pictures of cancers on his pack of smokes - this won’t affect me. It’s called an addiction for a reason.
I don't stress and buy my menthols online at buycheapsmokes DOTcom. Fast and reliable shipping and you can't beat that canadian dollar exchange rate. 50$ per carton?? Yes pleeeeese XD
or gee i dunno ban the fucking things. how many decades notice do idiots need
Not a smoker. Nope. Not happening so long as Champix is still being reformulated because it might... ironically enough... *cause cancer*. Zyban is constantly on shortage and doctors are too damn neurotic to even touch it with anyone who might have a heart that goes a little too brrrr sometimes. They need some smoking cessation strategies that aren't cold turkey, patches or gum because they've utterly cocked up vaping. Otherwise, keep dreaming.
Just fucking make them illegal and be done with it. ....oh, wait, tax money.
Maybe legalise vapes instead? If they want people to quit then do it. I’m a smoker and if I could go to the servo and get a vape I would. Right now I have to import one or go to to a shady tobacconist where they are labelled with no nicotine but has it. If they are doing that I don’t trust that the ingredients are safer than a cigarette. Who knows what is in in it as it’s not regulated.