Price rises a big incentive to cut down

Aucklander Paul Kennedy says cutting down on cigarettes is a financial decision. Photo / Richard Robinson

Sixty-year-old Paul Kennedy has been smoking for half his life and never once has he considered quitting or cutting down - until this week.

He normally smokes a packet and a half a day, but following news that the cost of cigarettes will increase three times by 2012, Mr Kennedy has decided to change his habits.

"At the moment, it's costing me $16 a day."

With the first 10 per cent increase in excise tax, which came into effect at midnight on Wednesday, Mr Kennedy estimates the cost of his smoking has risen by about $3 a day. But it's the longer-term increases - two more of 10 per cent - that worry him.

"I'm much more concerned about down the track when it's going to be $28 a day."

Rather than face such an increase, Mr Kennedy has decided to cut down - a move that experts predict will be mirrored by many of the 650,000-700,000 other smokers throughout the country.

"First of all is to cut down," he said, "just not to smoke when I don't really need one and just to really think about it right throughout the day. It's very much a financial decision."

Mr Kennedy managed to cut down "a few" cigarettes yesterday and said he didn't miss them too much.

"I'm fine because you don't need that many for a fix. I think a lot of it is a habit. You don't really need more than 10."

Mr Kennedy agreed with gradual price increases over several years - rather than all at once - saying it helped people to cut down or give up slowly.

"People get two years to think of the ridiculous pricing of it. If they don't give up by then, then that's tough."