Are rising cigarette prices driving older Aussies to try cannabis? Experts weigh in
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Rising costs often lead to unexpected changes in consumer habits, and recent data has highlighted a fascinating shift among older Australians.
What seemed like a straightforward response to price hikes is now prompting new choices among those who have long stuck to familiar routines.
This new trend is raising eyebrows, with experts scrambling to understand the underlying factors driving this shift.
New research revealed that older Australians who smoke cigarettes were turning to cannabis as tobacco prices continued to rise.
Australia, the most expensive country in the world to purchase cigarettes, saw tobacco prices soar due to biannual tax hikes by the federal government.
The cost of a 25-pack of cigarettes increased from just a few dollars in the 1990s to around $70 today. These taxes aimed to discourage smoking, with studies showing price as a key motivator for people to quit.
However, Curtin University’s School of Accounting, Economics and Finance found that Australians over 50 were increasingly turning to cannabis as an alternative when cigarette prices went up.
The study analysed purchasing habits of approximately 100,000 Australians between 2001 and 2019 using data from the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
Interestingly, while older Australians upped their cannabis use, people aged under 40 reduced theirs when tobacco prices climbed. For those aged 40 to 50, no significant changes were observed.
Researchers estimated that a 10 per cent increase in tobacco prices could lead to 68,000 Australians over 50 either trying cannabis for the first time or increasing their use as a substitute for tobacco.
Study author Professor Mark Harris said the findings were unexpected given that tobacco and cannabis were often used together.
‘In economic terms, if they’re consumed together and it becomes more expensive to buy tobacco, you’d expect cannabis consumption to also fall,’ he said.
In a previous story, we covered how scientists are raising alarms about the dangers of certain foods, warning that their effects on health may be just as harmful as smoking.
Curious to know which foods are on the list? Read the full article to find out.
Could this be the start of a broader trend, or is it just a temporary response to rising costs? Share your opinions in the comments below!
What seemed like a straightforward response to price hikes is now prompting new choices among those who have long stuck to familiar routines.
This new trend is raising eyebrows, with experts scrambling to understand the underlying factors driving this shift.
New research revealed that older Australians who smoke cigarettes were turning to cannabis as tobacco prices continued to rise.
Australia, the most expensive country in the world to purchase cigarettes, saw tobacco prices soar due to biannual tax hikes by the federal government.
The cost of a 25-pack of cigarettes increased from just a few dollars in the 1990s to around $70 today. These taxes aimed to discourage smoking, with studies showing price as a key motivator for people to quit.
However, Curtin University’s School of Accounting, Economics and Finance found that Australians over 50 were increasingly turning to cannabis as an alternative when cigarette prices went up.
The study analysed purchasing habits of approximately 100,000 Australians between 2001 and 2019 using data from the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
Interestingly, while older Australians upped their cannabis use, people aged under 40 reduced theirs when tobacco prices climbed. For those aged 40 to 50, no significant changes were observed.
Researchers estimated that a 10 per cent increase in tobacco prices could lead to 68,000 Australians over 50 either trying cannabis for the first time or increasing their use as a substitute for tobacco.
Study author Professor Mark Harris said the findings were unexpected given that tobacco and cannabis were often used together.
‘In economic terms, if they’re consumed together and it becomes more expensive to buy tobacco, you’d expect cannabis consumption to also fall,’ he said.
In a previous story, we covered how scientists are raising alarms about the dangers of certain foods, warning that their effects on health may be just as harmful as smoking.
Curious to know which foods are on the list? Read the full article to find out.
Could this be the start of a broader trend, or is it just a temporary response to rising costs? Share your opinions in the comments below!
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