Tobacco tax clears the air for all

How much do your habits cost you? With an economy quickly plummeting and desperation to overcome the worst financial crisis since WWII, cigarette smokers might ease the burden.

Tax efforts to reduce adult and teen smoking in America have been extremely effective in recent months. As individual states have made the push to go smoke-free, anti-tobacco campaigns are celebrating an enormous victory with the tax increase. The smoke is starting to clear.

Congress has agreed to raise the tax on cigarettes, by passing legislation that will simultaneously reduce tobacco use and expand health care coverage.

Since 2002, 44 states have taken the incentive to raise cigarette taxes. A previous 43.4 cent increase per pack has jumped to now $1.18 in selected states.

Considering the tight budget everyone faces, it’s hard to overlook how the tax will pump up revenue for qualified health care, paying for the health care expansion. Consider me on board.

As the number one cause of preventable death in our country, the use of tobacco has killed more than 400,000 people in the United States each year, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. In addition, related health care bills have exceeded $95 billion each year for the nation.

Smokers also pay more for insurance overall, but our entire society, including smokers and non–smokers alike, pays the price. Each American household spends over $600 a year in federal and state taxes due to smoking.

These costs come from medical expenses from the un-insured, or those who have lost productivity due to illness or death related to smoking.

This adds to the health care bills spent on both public and private health care.

Tobacco-free campaigns have generated awareness and prevention to reduce teen smoking. Studies have shown that raising the cigarette tax had decreased youth smoking by seven percent. National studies show cost has a deterring effect to smoking.

Cigarette companies, such as Philip Morris, have publicly admitted that tax increases prove to deter smoking. Peer-reviewed journals have recorded that every 10 percent increase in the real price of cigarettes generates a reduction in the number of young adult smokers by 3.5 percent.

Placing a tax on cigarettes will continue to cut smoking rates. The goal to cut smoking down will offer long- term benefits both financially and for better health.

Smoking only contributes to more problems, both physically and financially. In a time where we now have to nickel and dime our expenditures, it’s time we smash the butt.

Implementing a higher tax on cigarettes helps to address what could happen if we do not take this action.

The health risks that follow could light a fire under our feet that none of us would know how to put out. To smokers who find this unfair: what can I say, life’s a drag.