‘Higher cigarette prices reduce teen smoking’

Heidi Low of the American Cancer Society, who is presenting the cigarette-tax hike bill this morning, told the House Rev & Tax Committee that Idaho’s 57 cent per pack cigarette tax is ranks 42nd in the nation. “We are the lowest of all surrounding states,” she said. “It’s been demonstrated again and again that higher cigarette prices reduce teen smoking.” If the proposed increase were enacted of $1.25 per pack, Low said, data shows Idaho would see a decrease in youth smoking of 20 percent. “By imposing this tobacco tax increase, you’ll prevent 12,400 youth from ever” becoming smokers, she said, “and 9,400 current smokers will quit.”

The groups backing the bill commissioned a statewide poll, conducted by Moore Information, which found that while most voters oppose new taxes, 71 percent supported a tobacco tax increase. Low said Idaho’s Medicaid program spends $83 million a year on smoking-related health care costs.