Current policy interventions
The Government currently uses four primary approaches to reduce tobacco-related harm:
1. Smoke-free Environments Act legislation:
- prohibits smoking in workplaces and other public areas
- prohibits promotion and advertising of tobacco products and tobacco sponsorship
- controls the sale and labelling of tobacco products, for example mandatory pictorial health warnings, banning retail displays and banning sales of tobacco to minors
2. Cessation services and treatments, such as subsidised nicotine replacement and Quitline.
- "Better Help for Smokers to Quit" is one of six Government health targets[4]. It makes it a priority throughout the health system to ensure patients are routinely asked about their smoking status, and given brief advice on quitting and available smoking cessation support.
3. Health education services, including media campaigns;
4. Taxation, including CPI adjustments and periodic increases to raise the price of tobacco.
Notes
- [4]Health Targets are a set of national performance measures specifically designed to improve the performance of health services.
