Cigarette Tax Increase Might Prevent Some Youth from Smoking

I am writing in support of Governor Patrick’s proposed $1 cigarette tax increase, a proposal that also includes closing the loophole on other tobacco products. These tobacco products are aggressively marketed towards young people by packaging, price, and availability.

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that a $1.00 increase to the tobacco tax would save more than 27,000 young people from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco. When the price of tobacco goes up, fewer young people will be attracted and less will get hooked.

Tobacco price increases, usually accomplished in the form of taxes, are a key strategy to decrease tobacco use among youth, according to the Surgeon General. It’s time to use this prevention strategy again. The last increase to Massachusetts’ cigarette tax was $1.00 in 2008 and the last tax increase on other tobacco products was a decade ago, in 2002. Of all states bordering Massachusetts, only New Hampshire has a lower cigarette tax.

We have a responsibility to help prevent our young people from starting to smoke. An increase in the price of tobacco products would help to achieve this goal. #27kLives

Sincerely,

Brooke Hoyt
Drug Free Communities Coordinator
A project of Medford Health Matters