According to a study released by Health Canada Monday, fewer Albertans aged 15 and over are lighting up.
About 19 per cent of Albertans aged 15-plus were found to be current smokers in 2008 from January to June. This marked the first tome that provincial smoking rate has dropped below 20 per cent.
The executive director with Action on Smoking and Health said these results mark a significant milestone in the fight to reduce tobacco use in Alberta.
"Less than one in five Albertans are current smokers compared with one in three who were smokers just 20 years ago," said Les Hagen in a news release."We believe that the new Tobacco Reduction Act is largely responsible for the latest reduction in tobacco use."
Although, despite the reduction in the overall smoking rate, youth smoking rates still remain high.
The study found that 20 per cent of Alberta teens aged 15 to 19 were current smokers in 2007, and some health groups blame the affordability of tobacco products.
"We are calling for another major tobacco tax increase to reverse this trend and prevent thousands of Alberta youth from falling prey to tobacco companies," said Robyn Hauck, ASH Calgary representative.
ASH is hoping the Alberta government will raise tobacco taxes by at least $2.00 per pack in the upcoming provincial budget to in hopes of reversing the high smoking rates
"We simply cannot stand by while tobacco companies continue to target Alberta youth through price reductions, candy flavourings and attractive packages that resemble colour markers and lip gloss," said Hauck.
