New figures show that the state has the country’s highest proportion of mid-life smokers, mid-life being defined as between 20 and 40 years of age.

That equals about 74,000 Tasmanians, across all age groups, partaking in the deadly habit.

While the rate of smokers has halved in the past 20 years, the Cancer Council says more needs to be done to drive that figure down.

The start of September saw another installment of the tobacco excise, pushing the price of cigarettes up 13 per cent.

The average price of a packet now sits at $35.20, cementing Australia’s gong as being home to the most expensive cigarettes in the world.

Those who have quit report that the rising cost of cigarettes played a part in their decision, as well as wanting to improve their health outlook.

But the concerning thing is that it appears the people who are smoking the most can afford it the least.

It’s estimated that 17.9 per cent of the low socioeconomic population smoke, compared to an across-the-board figure of about 12 per cent.

It would appear that the extra 13 per cent that it now costs to buy a packet of cigarettes is being pulled from other parts of their budgets.

Is it being drawn from their savings? From their weekly food budget?

From the power bill? Car or home insurance?

How many more hits can their hip pockets take before there is some serious damage done to other parts of their lives?

While the figures do show that the price increase is helping some people to quit, we need to have a multi-pronged approach for those that it’s not deterring.

The Cancer Council is calling for more intense anti-smoking campaigns, which it says will complement the price hikes.

We also need to look at why these lower socioeconomic groups are taking up the habit.

What can we do to support them to kick the smokes? 

What more do they need, apart from price hikes and scary TV ads?

Cigarette addiction is a societal health problem, not a personal one, and should be treated as such.