Australia sees large fall in smoking after introduction of standardised packs

New figures from Australia have shown that the prevalence of smoking among adults fell by 15% in the second half of 2013, from 15.1% to 12.8%, a year after standardised packaging was introduced in December 2012.

The figures come from the National Drugs Strategy Household Surveys, which has been conducted every two to three years since 1985. The latest survey collected data from nearly 24 000 people across Australia between 31 July and 1 December 2013.1

The survey was conducted before the government’s major hike in tobacco tax of 12.5% in December 2013.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the UK health charity ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), said that the figures were evidence …