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Smoking in Australia

Smoking

Smoking refers to the action of burning a particular substance, involving the inhalation and exhalation of the smoke exhibited by the burning material. In particular, the most common form of smoking in Australia is tobacco smoking which is practised in a myriad of types. Data collected by the Cancer Council of Victoria and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Surveys, explicate that the majority form of tobacco in Australia that was smoked,was factory made cigarettes.It was also found to be the most common type of cigarette smoked by women. This survey also concluded that between 1974 to 1988, cigars were more commonly used by men than women. Likewise, a study conducted by the International Tobacco Control (ITC) established the prevalence of "Roll your own tobacco", was being utilised by 9% of the population, constituting mostly of males having a demographics of a lower level of income, and poor education. Unbranded loose tobacco (chop-chop) is also smoked by smokers, sold without government taxation,being a cheaper option and therefore utilised as an alternative to factory made cigarettes. 'Chop-chop' is prevalent among young Australian adults, as stated by the recent surveys conducted by the National Drug Strategy Household, which concluded that in 2016 , 3.8% of smokers aged 14+ used unbranded loose tobacco. This survey also identified other forms of smoking such as the e-cigarettes being utilised by 9% of the population and finally water-pipe tobacco (shishas, hookahs and argillas). Cannabis is also another drug which is smoked rolled in a cigarette. The usage of cannabis in 2016 among the Australia population is 10.4%.

This survey also outlined the smoking behaviour in Australia promulgating that individuals within the population aged between 25-29 years and 40-49 years had a higher prevalence of smoking that all the other age brackets. It also established that individuals 70 years and over were 6% less likely to smoke than all other age groups.

The highest amount of preventable deaths that occur in Australia is as a direct result of smoking. The smoking population of Australia is 14.5%.

Australia has implemented a myriad of control policies, including the recently legislated laws regulating cigarette packaging, and most importantly, each states own distinctive policies which is ideally suited to minimise smoking in that area.

Smoking in Australia is restricted in enclosed public places, workplaces, in areas of public transport and near underage events, except NSW's new laws which state that smoking is banned within 10 metres of children play spaces.

History of smoking in Australia

Tobacco Farming

In the early 1700's, tobacco smoking was introduced to the north dwelling indigenous communities through the visitation of the Indonesian fishermen. However, the British customs and behaviour of the utilisation of tobacco was introduced into the Australian culture in 1788 , due to the colonisation of Australia by the Europeans, and evidently, these tobacco related behaviours rapidly spread throughout the Aboriginal community, the free settlers and the convicts from Britain. When first introduced within Australia, the supply of tobacco was restricted within the Australian community , however by the 1800's tobacco was a fundamental item being used as a reward for a servants labour, or antagonistically used as a punishment for convicts, due to its addictive side effects. Eventually, by 1819, 80 to 90 percent of the labour force were smokers.

By 1880's the production of cigarettes were completely mechanised, however was often chosen over dandies. More importantly, the cheapness and ease of accessibility of these manufactured cigarettes, revolutionised the way Australian's smoke tobacco. This cigarette was prevalent in the World War 1, as 60% of the tobacco rations donated to the trenches, were in the cigarette form. Cigarette use also rapidly increased up to 70% during World War 1,in contrast to the usage before the war.

In the 1920's, societal views began to transition of women partaking in smoking behaviours and thus over the next several decades companies began to advertise smoking to women. The introduction of women in the workforce, led to greater freedom of women, and hence smoking rates within Australia increased.

By the 1930's the Australian Government began assisting the tobacco industry by introducing the Local Leaf Content Scheme, which required local tobacco to be used up in the manufacturing of cigarettes in Australia. However, in the 1990's the Industry Commission Inquiry found that tobacco had the greatest subsidisation in agriculture within Australia, and thus the Local Leaf Content Scheme was abolished. As a result, the tobacco industry within Australia declined to the oncoming threat of international competition. Currently, no commercial farming of tobacco occurs within Australia, and all tobacco products are imported from overseas.

Smoking patterns in Australia

Decline in smoking

Daily tobacco smoking in Australia has been declining since 1991, were the smoking population was 24.3%. Correspondingly, in 1995 23.8% of adults smoked daily. This figure also decreased in 2001, were 22.4% of the population used to smoke. This constant trend of the reduction of daily smoking has continued within these past 2 decades, with 16.1% of adults smoking in 2011-12, and finally 14.5% of the population smoking daily in 2014-15, which constitutes 2.6 million adults within Australia. However, most recently it was found that the smoking population of Australia in 2016 was 12.2%, and thus, the smoking population in Australia has almost halved since 1991.

Conversely, the rate of decline for smoking has become steady among recent years , with some sources arguing that the smoking percentage within Australia did not decline between the years of 2013 to 2016.

Decline of smoking in Australia from 1991 to 2016

Smoking prevalence in all states and territories

The daily smoking percentage in Northern Territory, has typically had the highest smoking rates within Australia. The high smoking rates within Northern Territory resonates with the high percentage of Indigenous individuals living there, as the smoking prevalence of the Indigenous in 2014-15 was 39%. Further, 26% of the Northern Territory population consists of individuals with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, which is 5% less in all the other states and territories within Australia. However, since 1995 Northern Territory has had the largest decrease in daily smoking rates in comparison to all other states, from 35.6% to 21% in 2014-15.

Daily smoking percentages of individuals 18+ in 2014-15, for each state and territory within Australia

	Percentages for daily smoking (%)
New South Wales	14
Victoria	14
Queensland	16
South Australia	13
Western Australia	14
Tasmania	18
Northern Territory	21
Australian Capital Territory	12

Smoking rates between males and females

The smoking percentage of men in 2017 is 16.5%, while the smoking percentage of women is 11.1%. Men have consistently shown to have a higher tendency to smoke daily than women. However, daily smoking percentage for both males and females were 27.3% and 20.3% respectively in 1995, expounding a significant reduction in smoking prevalence for both genders.

In 2017-18, men aged 18-24 years, around 17.5% of that age bracket smoked daily. This percentage remained constant for all age groups until the age of 55-64, were the daily smoking percentage dropped to 16.5%. This figure for daily smoking , further decreased for men at the age of 75+, dropping to a percentage of 5.1%.

Conversely, in 2017-18 it was found that women between the ages of 18-24, had a daily smoking percentage of 17.5%. This figure increased to 14.7% of women between the age bracket of 45-54, and eventually decreasing to 7.5% for women between the ages of 65-74.Finally,this percentage further dropped to 3.7%,to women 75+.

Underage smoking in Australia

Smoking prevalence of underage adults

The smoking prevalence of underage adults in Australia has oscillated overtime. During the 1980s, smoking rates among young adults began to decrease, however increased during early 1990s, while finally in the 1996, this percentage began to decrease again. Most recently in 2017, the underage smoking population in Australia was found to be lowest ever recorded.

The downward trend of the reduction of smoking amongst underage individuals from late 1990s, was accompanied with the introduction of the National Tobacco Campaign. Although failing, to reduce the smoking prevalence amongst adults within Australia , the campaign proved to be a success in reducing smoke rates amongst young adults. Factors such tobacco taxes and stricter laws to restrict tobacco sales to minors, also played a huge role in decreasing the smoking prevalence amongst the youth. Likewise, the decline in smoking rates from 2011-14 came in light of the establishment of the National Tobacco Strategy in 2012, and a myriad of other factors such as the new plain packaging laws, and introducing more smoke free environments. The slow decline of smoking rates among underage individuals, in recent years can be from a result of less government funded media campaigns and the introduction of new tobacco products within Australia, that entice young adults to smoke.

Accessibility of cigarettes to young adults

In 1996 it was found that 35% males and 40% females aged 12-17, most commonly obtained there cigarettes through their friends. This way of young adults accessing cigarettes, remained as the main source of cigarette accessibility for young males, whilst decreasing with age for females. Nonetheless, for male and female young adults between the ages of 16-17, their primary source of cigarette accessibility was through illegal purchases in stores, as 45% of females and 55% of males, in this age category reported to have purchased there own cigarettes.

However, the second most frequent way that young adults between the ages of 12-15 acquired cigarettes, was from older individuals who obtained the cigarettes for them.

Underage Australian students who participated in smoking, purchased cigarettes most commonly from outlets such as retail markets and service stations. It was found that 29% of smokers that were the age of 12, obtained cigarettes from vending machines. This is in comparison to 5% of older aged teenagers who obtained cigarettes in this manner.

The purchase of single cigarettes, was also a common way that underage smokers, obtained cigarettes, with 21% of males and 12% of females, purchasing single cigarettes regardless of their ban in most jurisdictions. This type of purchase became less common with one's age, as 29% of smokers that were the age of 12, were reported to purchase single cigarettes in comparison to 5% of 16-17%, who purchased this type of cigarette.

Underage smoking laws in Australia

Western Australia

The Tobacco Control Act (1990), prohibits the sale and supply of cigarettes to minors,