Cig tax could push smokers to quit
By Katherine Waters
Sun Staff Intern
CHENANGO COUNTY– “A week of cigarettes or a bag of groceries?” asked a Tobacco Free Chenango advertisement this week. This is the major question that most smokers will have to ask themselves due to the increase in cigarette tax on Tuesday.
The Cigarette Excise tax was increased from $1.50 to $2.75, making New York’s cigarette tax the highest in the country. The reason for such an increase in tax is “to attempt to reduce the prevalence of smoking,” said James Mutabiilwa of Tobacco Free Chenango, a program of Chenango Health Network.
This year the New York Tobacco Control Program began the One Million Fewer Smokers by 2010 initiative. The tax increase, which is part of the new initiative, is expected to result in 140,000 fewer smokers.
“Those who had never thought of quitting will now consider it,” said Mutabiilwa and New York State is increasing the available services to help those who do want to quit. The NY Smokers’ Quitline has doubled its staff in order to accommodate the increase of people who need support during the quitting process.
Not only is the increase in tax an attempt to convince adult smokers to quit, it is also meant to discourage students and young adults from starting. On average it now costs almost $7 per pack of cigarettes. “Increasing the price of cigarettes makes it more difficult for young people to start smoking,” said state Senator Kemp Hannon, Chair of the Senate Health Committee, in a press release.
In total the tax will raise almost $265 million a year in new state revenues. In addition, by reducing the amount of smokers, there will be a $5 billion decrease in long-term health care costs.
Statistics show more than 59 percent of people in New York supported the tax increase, especially if the tax was then used to support more education about the consequences of smoking.
Eighteen percent of the adult population of New York smokes, and now they will have to start thinking of the consequences of buying a weeks worth of cigarettes. “My hope is people will think twice before smoking,” said Mutabiilwa.
For help quitting call the toll-free Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 or go to the website www.nysmokefree.com. The New York State Smokers’ Quitline offers free coaching and quit plans, nicotine patches or gum, as well as tips and information to help in the quitting process.
Sun Staff Intern
CHENANGO COUNTY– “A week of cigarettes or a bag of groceries?” asked a Tobacco Free Chenango advertisement this week. This is the major question that most smokers will have to ask themselves due to the increase in cigarette tax on Tuesday.
The Cigarette Excise tax was increased from $1.50 to $2.75, making New York’s cigarette tax the highest in the country. The reason for such an increase in tax is “to attempt to reduce the prevalence of smoking,” said James Mutabiilwa of Tobacco Free Chenango, a program of Chenango Health Network.
This year the New York Tobacco Control Program began the One Million Fewer Smokers by 2010 initiative. The tax increase, which is part of the new initiative, is expected to result in 140,000 fewer smokers.
“Those who had never thought of quitting will now consider it,” said Mutabiilwa and New York State is increasing the available services to help those who do want to quit. The NY Smokers’ Quitline has doubled its staff in order to accommodate the increase of people who need support during the quitting process.
Not only is the increase in tax an attempt to convince adult smokers to quit, it is also meant to discourage students and young adults from starting. On average it now costs almost $7 per pack of cigarettes. “Increasing the price of cigarettes makes it more difficult for young people to start smoking,” said state Senator Kemp Hannon, Chair of the Senate Health Committee, in a press release.
In total the tax will raise almost $265 million a year in new state revenues. In addition, by reducing the amount of smokers, there will be a $5 billion decrease in long-term health care costs.
Statistics show more than 59 percent of people in New York supported the tax increase, especially if the tax was then used to support more education about the consequences of smoking.
Eighteen percent of the adult population of New York smokes, and now they will have to start thinking of the consequences of buying a weeks worth of cigarettes. “My hope is people will think twice before smoking,” said Mutabiilwa.
For help quitting call the toll-free Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 or go to the website www.nysmokefree.com. The New York State Smokers’ Quitline offers free coaching and quit plans, nicotine patches or gum, as well as tips and information to help in the quitting process.
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