World No Tobacco Day is on the 31st of May. World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31 May and aims to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects. Council have just taken a step towards Banning the Single Use Plastic Bag in Eurobodalla. Why don't they also look at cigarette sales and ban those across the shire as well. The only people who benefit from selling cigarettes are retailers and the government. Both prey on addiction for revenue. A retailer of tobacco is no better than a dealer. If towns went NO TOBACCO then the immediate consequence would be people having no access. Yes, there might be a black market however the young ones wouldn't be able to have such easy access to begin smoking. We need generations of NON-SMOKERS to come up through the ranks. The numbers are looking good and improving. There should also be some truths told such as retailers only sell because they make profits. The other truths should be that smokers STINK. Their clothes reek, their hair reeks and they have no idea because most non-smokers are too polite to tell them, including their own family members. But to a non smoker they smell like a rank acrid ashtray. And by the way when you smoke in an open space everyone still gets to smell your STENCH metres away except for you, and yes, the NON Smokers all loath you. But then you probably know that by now. Have a cigarette at work outside the front door and then walk back inside thinking you don't STINK. Wrong.... you stink.
If the above graph is the impact of tax increases and other initaitives imagin ethe impact of smokers being informed they STINK and the impact of introducing TOBACCO FREE Towns.
Some other truths should be revealed as well. Tobacco tax has risen 343 per cent in 20 years and while the Government takes accolades saying the tax hikes reduce consumption Officially for World No Tobacco Day the Southern NSW Local Health District are advising that the best thing smokers can do for their health is to quit smoking, but pressure from a friend or family member can make it more difficult for someone to quit. They advise “If you are supporting someone to quit it is important that it is that person’s choice not yours. However supporting someone in a positive and non-judgmental way can be extremely helpful,” “Becoming a non-smoker takes time. Many people make a number of attempts to quit before they quit for good. If someone you are supporting does slip up or return to smoking, you can help them by continuing to provide encouragement and highlight the positive learning that is gained from every quit attempt." Southern NSW Local Health District has the third highest rate of smoking in NSW, with 18.5 per cent of the population continuing to smoke, compared to 15.0 per cent in NSW. “Don’t ever give up on giving up. Every time you try to quit you learn more about getting it right and your body will love you for trying,” For advice and support with quitting smoking call the Quitline on 13 7848, visit http://www.icanquit.com.au or speak with your health professional.
