PUBLIC OPINION ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, SPORTS SPONSORSHIPS AND TAXATION PRIOR TO THE VICTORIAN TOBACCO ACT, 1987

Abstract

A survey of 1136 Victorian adults in June, 1987 showed high awareness of government involvement in anti‐smoking campaigns and a big majority(79%) who favoured maintaining the campaigns or making them tougher. Nearly half would unconditionally approve an increase in tobacco tax of 50 cents per packet and if the revenue raised were to be hypothecated to programs such as health education, medical research and funding sport and the arts, the approval for a tobacco tax increase rose to 84 per cent. Sixty‐three per cent approved a ban on cigarette advertising and 37 per cent a ban on sponsorship of sport by tobacco companies. Providing the government replaced cigarette sponsorship money with funds raised through tobacco taxes, a further 20 per cent would approve a ban on tobacco sponsorship of sport, making the total approval for the measure 57 per cent. 1988 Public Health Association of Australia