Australia’s major supermarkets are facing increasing pressure to remove cigarettes from their shelves, as health advocates push for stronger action to protect public health. The Lung Foundation Australia is calling for a nationwide ban on cigarette sales in supermarkets, arguing that the current situation makes it too easy for people to buy tobacco while doing their grocery shopping.
The Foundation’s campaign is focused on the role easy access plays in sustaining smoking habits. By having cigarettes available in familiar, everyday locations, it becomes much harder for people, especially those trying to quit, to resist the temptation. This, campaigners say, undermines national efforts to reduce smoking rates and minimise related health costs.
Tobacco use remains one of Australia’s leading causes of preventable death, with an estimated 66 people dying each day due to smoking-related illness. Cigarette sales at major chains like Coles are estimated to contribute to over 1,600 deaths each year, with the broader cost to the healthcare system running into the hundreds of millions annually.
The push to restrict cigarette sales in supermarkets is also supported by medical professionals, who compare the addictive nature of nicotine to far more heavily restricted substances. They argue that allowing tobacco to be sold alongside everyday essentials normalises its presence and trivialises the serious risks it poses to health.
Health advocates also point to the long history of tobacco companies profiting from a product known to be deadly. Since the 1950s, the link between smoking and lung cancer has been well established, yet cigarettes continue to be widely available for sale. Removing tobacco from supermarket shelves is seen as a crucial step towards dismantling the influence of this industry and prioritising public wellbeing over corporate profit.
Supermarkets, meanwhile, argue that they are acting within the law and providing a legal option for consumers who choose to smoke. Coles, for example, says it complies with all relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory regulations designed to reduce the harm caused by tobacco use. Despite this, campaigners say more proactive leadership is needed, not just legal compliance.
Woolworths has yet to comment on the issue, but other retailers are already feeling the impact of changing consumer behaviour and rising cigarette taxes. IGA recently reported a loss of $150 million in tobacco-related revenue over the past three years, partly due to a significant rise in black market cigarette sales.
As legal tobacco becomes increasingly expensive, many Australians have turned to illicit sources. This shift has had a direct effect on government tax revenue from tobacco, which has plummeted from $16.3 billion five years ago to just $7.4 billion today. The growth of the black market not only undermines health efforts but also presents new challenges for law enforcement and public safety.
Despite the rise of illegal sales, the overall smoking rate in Australia has continued to decline. Government data shows a significant drop from 20% of the population in 2001 to around 8% today. This progress is credited to strong tobacco control policies, public education campaigns, and higher taxes on cigarettes. However, health experts believe the final steps toward a smoke-free future will require even bolder action, including eliminating cigarette availability in everyday retail environments.
Removing cigarettes from supermarkets is viewed as a practical and symbolic move that reinforces the message that smoking is harmful and no longer socially acceptable. It would reduce everyday exposure to tobacco products and remove a major trigger for former smokers and those trying to quit.
Supporters of the ban argue that while cigarettes may remain legal, that doesn’t mean they should be available on every street corner or supermarket checkout. Just as tighter restrictions were introduced on advertising, packaging and public smoking, limiting where cigarettes can be sold is the next logical step in reducing harm and saving lives.
In the end, the Lung Foundation and other campaigners want to see both government and corporate Australia take greater responsibility for public health. The choice, they argue, is between continued complicity in tobacco-related harm or meaningful change that puts Australians’ health first.
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