The Lung Foundation of Australia advocates for prohibiting supermarkets from selling cigarettes.
The organization has proposed this ban with the aim of preventing smokers from being enticed into purchasing a packet or pouch of cigarettes when they’re doing their grocery shopping.
“We require everybody ranging from the government to large corporations to prioritize the respiratory health of Australians over the profit margins derived from a product that claims 66 Australian lives each day,” stated Mark Brooke, the CEO of the foundation.
Earlier news stories have pointed out that Coles estimates their annual cigarette sales could lead to over 1600 deaths among Australians due to smoking-related causes and result in tobacco-associated healthcare expenses exceeding $300 million per year.
Ex-smoker Sarah Waters has become part of the movement advocating for a ban on cigarette sales in supermarkets.
Ms Waters began smoking at age 13 and persisted for almost three decades.
“Quitting isn’t simple, but making cigarettes harder to purchase definitely would’ve made an impact. Back when I began smoking, there weren’t any age restrictions, and tobacco companies promoted them as trendy for younger folks.”
Dr. Henry Marshall, a thoracic specialist at Prince Charles Hospital, stated that nicotine is as highly addictive as heroin.
The distinction is that you cannot purchase heroin alongside your regular groceries.
“It is hard to fight an addiction while also being able to buy tobacco products so easily.”
Professor Marshall has lent his support to the Lung Foundation’s plea for a prohibition.
“He stated that individuals who smoke require greater assistance from healthcare providers and the government.”
I want to witness individuals urging the international tobacco corporations to take responsibility. These entities were aware that smoking leads to lung cancer long before 1954 and kept selling their goods just to gain profits from Australian consumers. The moment has come for us to declare, ‘we’ve had enough.’
The Lung Foundation is urging the government to prohibit supermarkets from selling tobacco items.
As a reply, Coles stated in an official announcement that they are offering smokers a lawful means to acquire tobacco products.
“Coles adheres to all federal, state, and territory regulations designed to reduce the adverse health impacts of tobacco consumption. Nonetheless, we acknowledge the importance of offering options for customers who want to buy such items within legal bounds,” stated a representative.
Woolworths has been asked for their input.
Early this year, IGA stated they had lost approximately $150 million in revenue over a period of three years due to an increase in illicit cigarette trade nationwide.
Australians are increasingly resorting to the black market for cigarettes and tobacco because the taxes on legally purchased products have become too expensive.
The tax revenue collected by the federal government from tobacco has dropped sharply from $16.3 billion five years ago to $7.4 billion this year.
The most recent governmental statistics indicate that smoking prevalence has dropped from 20 percent of the populace in 2001 to approximately 8 percent currently.
