Youth smoking

Take some money and give it them

The Tobacco tax war is underway again, this time in the New Hampshire State Senate, as both sides debate the House passed 0.20 cent per pack tax hike before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Supporters of the tax point to potential health benefits and a reduction in youth smoking. The Union Leader Article I draw this from is actually titled “Cigarette Tax Increase Seen as Deterrent to Youth Smoking,” but we already know that to be false.

According to the American Lung Associations own publications there has been absolutely no change in the middle-school smoking rate in New Hampshire since at least 2006, despite Democrats more than doubling the cigarette tax, taking it from 0.80/pack to 1.78/pack (plus a 65% wholesale price increase passed by Democrats in 2010).

The Lung Association’s reports for New Hampshire High School age smokers document the rate in 2006 at 20.5% (rising and falling) to settle in at 20.8% for 2010.

We also know that New Hampshire is consistently one of the healthiest states in the nation.

Problems with youth smoking — Does taxing cigarette’s actually reduce youth smoking in NH?

The American Lung Association would like New Hampshire legislators to increase the state’s tobacco tax by $1.00/pack. It is their opinion that this will reduce youth smoking and…they’d be more inclined to give us better grades.

The Lung Association gave the Granite State some of the lowest rankings in the Northeast in categories dealing with the cigarette tax, spending on tobacco prevention, smoke-free air and cessation programs.

It also noted that New Hampshire has the highest youth smoking rate in the region — 19.8 percent compared to 12.5 percent nationally — and that no state tax dollars are spent on programs to discourage smoking.

-Union Leader

Is the lung association prepared to compensate us for the 20% loss in sales revenue and secondary commerce to neighboring states as a result because the last time I checked, regardless of what the American Lung Association has to say about their special interest issue, New Hampshire is still consistently one of the top three healthiest states in the nation, year after year.

Oh, and then there’s this inconvenient truth…

The NH Tobacco Tax Increase is Not About Youth Smoking or Public Health…it is a Transfer of Wealth

Lung Association Says Hike Cigarette Tax $1.00/Pack…for the Children