The servo that's BANNED cigarettes: Petrol station owner refuses to sell smokes because he wants to

A small town petrol station has become the first in New Zealand to stop selling cigarettes.

The Kaukapakapa Gull Service Station, north-west of Auckland, became a smoke free business in April.

Owners Brett Peachey and his wife Julie said they made the difficult decision after speaking to numerous customers who struggled to quit.

'We've been running servos for 20 odd years and we've had a lot of customers saying they've tried to give up smoking,' Mr Peachey told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's a real problem in the community and we thought going smoke-free was the right decision to make.'

Mr Peachy opened the smoke-free Kaukapakapa Gull Service Station in April, after selling their previous petrol business.

He said the business has become a safer place to work with a decreased chance of being robbed as service stations are usually targeted by robbers for cigarettes.

New Zealand has an annual tobacco tax increase every year and the current cost for a 25-pack of cigarettes is $37.48 ($35.28AU). 
 

Although there hasn't been any backlash from the decision, he said some customers have been surprised that they can no longer purchase cigarettes.

'A few people are a bit surprised but once you explain it to them, we offer them a chocolate fish for free and it breaks the ice,' Mr Peachey said.

'The sweet alternative keeps them happy.'

Mr Peachey said the decision came with a price, saying there was financial hardship which came as a result of being a smoke-free service station.

'It's just something we're going to have to live with but we're prepared to take on that challenge,' he said.

He has encouraged other service stations in New Zealand to go smoke-free.

'If we're the first in New Zealand to do it then it would be good if other service stations came on board and helped people give up the habit,' he said.