Abstract
Recent comments about the government's role in reducing smoking suggest the state should do no more than ensure people are aware of the dangers—a goal some argue has already been achieved. But what does "knowing the dangers of smoking" mean, and do people who smoke make an informed decision when they begin smoking?
This Briefing probes these questions using a framework proposed by Australian researchers and tested and refined in Aotearoa. Very few people who smoke made considered decisions, understood addiction, or fully appreciated the risks they faced when they started smoking as teenagers. Most regret smoking and want to stop, but find the addiction to nicotine hard to break. For these reasons, governments’ responsibilities should include implementing policies that protect young people from starting to smoke and make it easier for those who smoke to quit.