Choosing your first cigarette brand: a beginner’s guide (for adults 18+)
Most first-brand guides skip the obvious point, so here it is: not starting is the healthiest choice available, and support to stay smoke-free is free on 13 7848. For adults who are going to smoke anyway, the practical question is how to read a range without wasting money on products that do not suit.
| Check | What to expect |
|---|---|
| In the range | What it tells you |
| Numbers (1mg, 4mg, 8mg, 12mg) | Variant names, not safety ratings |
| Formats (king size, slim, super slim) | Draw, burn and feel — not risk |
| Tier names (Red, Gold, Blue) | Blend position within that brand |
| Price | Mostly tax: about $31 of every 20-pack |
How to compare without wasting money
Buy single packs, not cartons, and change one variable at a time: same number, different format; or same format, different tier. Two packs a fortnight apart will teach you more than any ranking list.
The checks before any purchase
Buy only where the price contains the duty (~$310 per carton), the pack is a compliant brown pack with the standardised name, age verification applies, and a GST invoice follows. Any seller failing one of those is failing all of them.
Before you order — four checks that never change
- Price against the excise floor. Duty is $1.55274 a stick from 1 September 2026 — about $31 in a 20-pack and $310 in a carton. Start with single packs and one variable at a time — and remember not starting is free.
- The pack in the photo. Legal Australian stock is drab brown (Pantone 448C) with graphic warnings covering at least 75% of the front and 90% of the back — no logos, no brand artwork.
- Age and delivery. Distance sellers must verify you are 18 or over, and somebody who can sign and show ID has to be at the address. Lockers and unstaffed addresses can be refused.
- State rules. South Australia prohibits mail and online tobacco orders outright; everywhere else requires an age-verification system.
Related reading
- cigarette strength numbers explained
- what slim and king-size formats change
- what a 20-pack really costs in 2026
This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. All tobacco products are harmful and state rules change — check your state or territory regulator before ordering. For help quitting call Quitline on 13 7848.