Australia estimates that 15,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, which would represent a cost of more than 30 billion Australian dollars (or 21 billion euros) for the community. The country was therefore one of the first to toughen its anti-smoking legislation, by adopting the neutral-package from 2012, by banning electronic cigarettes and doubling the price of a packet of cigarettes in 2010 and then in 2013.
Melbourne, the country’s second city, even announced it would become a “tobacco-free city” by the end of the year, banning smoking in all public places, including on the streets.
This time the Australian Prime Minister has decided to strike even harder by announcing that the price of a packet of cigarettes will drop from an average of 16 euros currently to 30 euros (or 45 Australian dollars) by 2020. According to the budget documents presented by the Australian government, the tobacco tax will increase by 12.5% per year from 2017 to 2020 and will represent 69% of the price of the pack within 4 years.
This measure was widely applauded by the medical world and many smokers surveyed recognized that this sharp increase will encourage them to quit smoking.
The previous measures would have made it possible to go from 25% of smokers in the population in 1993 to 15% in 2013.
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