LIGHTING up will cost Bunbury smokers nearly $1 a cigarette and $7000 a year for a pack-a-day, after a hefty tax increase last month.
The increase will push the price of a packet of 40 above $30 and the price of some 20 packs above $20.
By the time the cigarette excise is increased by a further 25 per cent over the next two years, smokers will pay a whopping $5 extra per pack of 20.
Bunbury service station worker Emma Stacey occasionally cops the brunt of a disgruntled smoker after prices go up.
Ms Stacey, who does not smoke herself, said she received the odd grunt or “bloody ridiculous” from some customers but on the whole smokers kept buying.
“Maybe one person a day in a seven hour shift will say ‘don’t worry about it’,” Ms Stacey said.
She said she had noticed people going for the cheaper brands instead.
“I started working in retail almost 10 years ago and at the time the Winfield Blues and Peter Jacksons were the popular ones – but they just buy cheaper brands like Bond Street, JPS and Choice now.”
You could buy a year’s worth of smokes or... - Three around the world plane tickets - A good used car - A fifth of an average home loan deposit - Three platinum AFL grand final tickets - A jet ski
Cancer Council WA regional education officer and ex-smoker Dianne Pope said she quit because she was tired of “burning money” and ruining her health in the process.
“Rightly so, as smoking is something that affects everyone and I had a growing awareness of the harm it can do to others as well,” Ms Pope said.
She said one the main reasons for joining the Cancer Council was her own experience quitting smoking.
It is estimated 800 million fewer cigarettes will be smoked in Australia and around 60,000 smokers will quit due to the price hike.
Ms Stacey said she hoped it would discourage local young people from picking up the habit at all.
The Cancer Council runs courses for those wanting to quit.
To find out more call 9721 4755.
