The New Hampshire Legislature is considering lowering tobacco taxes to help increase cigarette sales ”“ yes, increase cigarette sales.
It is discouraging to see New Hampshire and other states ”“ New Jersey and Rhode Island ”“ considering this change when smoking has been on the decline for years.
We’ve come a long way from World War II era or even the 1960s, when more than 50 percent of men were smokers and about 35 percent of women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The number hovered around 20 percent of adults in the U.S. in the 2009, CDC figures show.
One of the most vulnerable and high-risk groups for tobacco use, however, is young people.
In Maine, a disturbing trend has been identified over the last couple of years. Youth smoking is on the rise, and an increase in the tobacco tax has been pushed for the last several years to stifle that trend. If a tax rate decrease is approved in New Hampshire, it could lead to a dangerous increase in smoking and new smokers in Maine as well as the Granite State.
Over the last few years in Maine, youth smoking has increased slightly. And with a drop in the price in New Hampshire, many in York County could make the quick trip across the border to purchase cigarettes.
The ramifications of these choices may not manifest for many years, but when they do, the cost is high.
For New Hampshire, The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids estimates the cut could mean more than $21 million in long-term health costs. The campaign also estimates the drop in tax would result in 1,000 new young smokers in New Hampshire ”“ not to mention Maine.
It is easy to see young people from York County making the trip south to purchase cigarettes for a lower price.
New England needs a robust policy to discourage smoking ”“ especially among teens ”“ and continuing to increase the tobacco tax over time helps to do so.
Smoking leads to a lifetime of health issues and unhealthy, unproductive workers. Asthma, emphysema and lung cancer are just a few of the many health problems associated with smoking, and the younger smokers start, the worse off they will be.
Decreasing the tax in New Hampshire may increase sales slightly, but it will not increase revenues for the state and is a shortsighted approach to increase sales for businesses that sell cigarettes.
The costs in this case far outweigh the benefits, because there are no benefits to increasing smoking and creating new smokers.
We hope the New Hampshire Senate will vote against this proposal for the health of their own residents ”“ and ours ”“ and for the future of the state and the region.
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Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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