Reply #16: Studies Have Shown That Smoking Declines as Smoking Taxes Increase

[TomCADem]

Here is an article from 2007 regarding the last tax increase on smoking, and apparently this prior tax increase did not stop most recent increase. So, if you do think that smoking should be reduced, then it does appear that a tax increase is the way to go.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-08-09-1Alede_N.htm

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As Congress weighs the biggest federal cigarette tax hike in history, a USA TODAY analysis finds that higher state taxes on smokers have produced sharp declines in consumption.
The amount of decline in smoking is directly tied to the size of the tax increase, the analysis shows.

Cigarette sales fell 18% in North Carolina last year after the tax was raised in two steps to 35 cents from a nickel. The tobacco-growing state resisted higher cigarette taxes until 2005. Elsewhere:

•Connecticut has increased its tax to $1.51 from 50 cents per pack in 2002. Since then, per capita consumption of cigarettes has fallen 37%.

•New Jersey raised its tax to $2.40 from 80 cents in 2002. Smoking has dropped 35%.

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