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Letter: Tobacco tax works

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Staff

With all of the recent discussions of smoking bans, FDA regulations and “sin” taxes, it is important to examine the effects of tobacco on the youth of North Carolina and the benefits of a higher cigarette tax. Studies show that an increase in cigarette prices would discourage more young people from starting smoking and encourage those who do smoke to quit. Orange County youth involved in the Tobacco. Reality. Unfiltered.
(TRU) program have been educating their peers about the dangers of tobacco use and how teens can spend their money on other things for the past six years.

When almost 4,000 young people start smoking every day in the U.S., every step in the direction of youth tobacco prevention is a tiny victory in the minds of the TRU Crew. As it is important for youth to keep the limited amount of cash they have in their pockets, a higher cigarette tax would make youth less likely to purchase tobacco products. The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that if the tax increases by $1 per pack, 17 percent fewer teens would smoke.

Aside from the fiscal benefits of the proposal, the lives of many youth and adult smokers will be saved due to an increase of the taxes on tobacco products. This increase could save the lives of over 43,300 smokers in NC from premature smoking-related deaths. Not to mention, the decrease in smoking will lead to healthier people and saving millions of dollars on medical costs.

The Orange County TRU group devotes their time to educating youth on the effects of tobacco. Through presentations, commercials and many other outlets, TRU has seen much progress in the ways of tobacco advocacy. By increasing the tax by $1, even fewer young people would buy tobacco products, or start at all.

Shannen Jacobs
Hillsborough
(Jacobs is a graduate of the Orange County TRU Program)

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