‘How much is smoking REALLY costing you?’

This is the big question young people are being asked on Youth Tobacco Free Day, Friday 19 March.

The annual event of the Australian Network on Young People and Tobacco aims to raise awareness of tobacco as a health and social issue among young Australians aged 10 to 25 years.

This year Youth Tobacco Free Day aims to highlight the financial cost of smoking and encourage young people to think about other things they could spend their money on. With prices averaging around $13.50 a packet, a heavy smoker can see almost $5,000 going up in smoke every year!

Young people are encouraged to visit www.OxyGen.org.au for ideas on how to celebrate Youth Tobacco Free Day. There are more than 40 great prizes to be won including signed gear from the Hilltop Hoods, iTunes vouchers and clothing store gift cards. Young people can play the online game ‘Scary Maths’ and enter the competition before 16 April.

An online poll on www.OxyGen.org.au is calling for young people to have their say on whether increasing cigarette packs to $20 each, would encourage them to quit smoking or prevent them from taking up smoking. Results will be published on www.OxyGen.org.au.

Click here to download a free Youth Tobacco Free Day poster.

Click here to read our media release.