More Money To Stop Smoking

New Zealand First Family Affairs spokesperson Barbara Stewart is calling on the Government to spend more money on stop smoking campaigns after a study showed that more than 10 percent of children were missing out on the basics due to increased spending on cigarettes by parents.

“Increasing tax levies on cigarettes to discourage smoking is fine. This may be effective in deterring young people from starting to smoke, however it is obviously not working with adults who have a smoking habit already,” said Mrs Stewart.

“The government should use the extra funds generated from cigarette taxes to help people quit smoking, for the sake of their own health and the health of their children.

“We live in a first world country yet we cannot provide the basics in life to over 10 percent of our children because their parents are smokers. This is a serious problem in the lower socio-economic group that needs to be addressed.

“The parents are possibly not being reached by the campaigns and they should be encouraged to kick their habit for the sake of their children,” said Mrs Stewart.

© Scoop Media