NZ Tobacco use falls (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Tobacco use falls
Source: The Press, Friday, 10/29/99

WELLINGTON -- New Zealanders are smoking a third less tobacco than they
did before bans on advertising and smoking in workplaces were introduced
in 1990, new statistics show.

Smoking levels took their latest dive after the Government increased
tobacco tax last year, the Health Ministry said. New Zealand had 55,000
fewer smokers than in 1990, ministry senior analyst Matthew Allen said.

Between 1990 and the end of last year the amount of tobacco sold dropped
34 per cent, according to a report written by public health physician
Murray Laugesen from figures supplied by tobacco companies. Most of that
was caused by smokers cutting back rather than quitting.--NZPA