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Raising Cigarette Tax
Cigarette smoking starts as a simple act of innocence and fun, but the dependence on tobacco
soon develops into a lifelong addiction. ... One way to decrease smoking is to put a tax on cigarettes. The controversy of raising cigarette tax has been discussed for years, and many states have recently been increasing cigarette taxes. If used correctly the tax revenue from cigarettes can have positive effects on tackling the smoking issue. Consumption of cigarettes needs to be reduced and one way to accomplish this goal is by implementing a tax increase on cigarettes. ...
Although raising cigarette tax to reduce smoking is a modern issue, cigarettes have been taxed
for years. The first cigarette tax became effective in 1941 (1). This tax increased the cost of the cigarette pack by two cents, and although the tax was not intended to decrease smoking, this is the reason why many states are currently increasing the taxes. During the recent years, several states have raised cigarette taxes. ... Maine, Rhode
Island, Wisconsin, and Virginia have all increased their cigarette tax in hopes to reduce smoking. As of January 1, 2002, the national average on cigarette tax is 44. ... In January, New York approved raising the state’s cigarette tax by thirty-nine cents to $1. ... The increase goes into effect in April and will make New York have the highest cigarette tax in the nation. The trend of raising taxes has caught on, and seventeen other states are considering hiking the cost of cigarettes to decrease smoking.
There are several ways the revenue from cigarette tax can discourage people from smoking. ... One important study, released on April 24, 2001, shows that cigarette tax increases are especially effective at preventing kids from becoming regular, addicted smokers. Increasing cigarette prices just 10 percent per pack nationwide would reduce the number of kids who become regular smokers by about four percent, saving them from addiction, disease and death (Tax Hike). The increase in price prevents kids from starting to smoke and provides an incentive for current smokers to reduce their cigarette consumption. Besides lowering smoking rates among children and teenagers, the tax increase also discourages smoking in lower income families. ... This means that these people suffer the most from smoking and will benefit the most from higher cigarette prices by reducing their dependency on cigarettes.
Approximate Word count = 1897
Approximate Pages = 7.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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