Smokers paid to stop

The South Pacific nation of Niue could become the first country to eliminate smoking by paying its 200 smokers to quit the habit, its premier said Monday.

Premier Vivian Young said it would be cheaper to pay all smokers up to 2,000 New Zealand dollars ($1,543) each to stop smoking than to continue paying their health care costs.

"Of course I am serious. If your health bill is climbing beyond $200,000, up to NZ$1 million per year then it is preferable to pay (smokers to quit)," he told reporters at the South Pacific Forum meeting in Tonga.

(China Daily 10/16/2007 page11)