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New York - Due to Higher Taxes Smokers Continue to Butt Out |
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The Department of Health announced today that just under 17 percent of New Yorkers were smokers in 2008, which represented a 12 percent or nearly 310,000-person drop from the year before.
They note that the decrease in smoking came as taxes on cigarettes are hitting record levels. Last June, the state raised taxes from $1.25 to $2.75 per pack, making it the nation's highest state tax at the time.
Additionally, federal taxes rose 61 cents to $1 a pack in April.
"For the first time, New York's adult smoking rate has dropped below 17 percent, which is well below the national average," said State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D.
"The data reported today show that New York's tobacco control efforts are having an impact and that keeping the price of cigarettes high is a proven intervention that has helped 310,000 New Yorkers become ex-smokers, who can now lead healthier, longer lives."
"This is what we predicted," added Russell Sciandra, director of the Center for a Tobacco-Free New York.
Health Department spokeswoman Diane Mathis said the state's data comes from an annual survey of "risk factors," that states do in coordination with federal officials.
New Yorkers now pay $3.75 in state and federal taxes for a pack of cigarettes. In New York City, where there is an additional $1.50 tax, they pay $5.25.
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Read Comments (15) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 04, 2009 at 05:56 PM Avrohom Abba Says:
Great!
While some rabbis are extremely busy keeping Jewish boys from meeting Jewish girls at concerts, I'd much rather see the rabbis tell every single yeshiva student to get the hell out of the yeshiva if they are caught and warned and then do it again. Why?
Simple...32,000 non smokers die of lung cancer each year because they live with, or work with smokers.
This is SAKANOS NEFASHOS.
What is this, Europe or Israel? Go down any street in Europe and you'll find all the backwards idiots smoking all over the place and the streets stink and it's even dangerous.They want to smoke their dumb heads off? Let them smoke in a locked closet for a few weeks.
They are all a bunch of big shot movie actor imitators, who also spread disease and death!
2
Jun 04, 2009 at 05:48 PM u can do it Says:
I am one of the 310000 who stoped
3
Jun 04, 2009 at 05:21 PM Zg49 Says:
Only 17 percent buy their cigs in stores at full price the rest of the smokers buy either out of state or boot leg
4
Jun 04, 2009 at 06:19 PM proud smoker Says:
“ I am one of the 310000 who stoped ”
I am 1 of the 1000's that started....
5
Jun 04, 2009 at 07:14 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Great!
While some rabbis are extremely busy keeping Jewish boys from meeting Jewish girls at concerts, I'd much rather see the rabbis tell every single yeshiva student to get the hell out of the yeshiva if they are caught and warned and then do it again. Why?
Simple...32,000 non smokers die of lung cancer each year because they live with, or work with smokers.
This is SAKANOS NEFASHOS.
What is this, Europe or Israel? Go down any street in Europe and you'll find all the backwards idiots smoking all over the place and the streets stink and it's even dangerous.They want to smoke their dumb heads off? Let them smoke in a locked closet for a few weeks.
They are all a bunch of big shot movie actor imitators, who also spread disease and death! ”
The time to educate kids is before they pick up a cigarette. Teenagers don't understand how just one can get you addicted, and, of course teens think they are invincible. I've been there.
For those of you still trying to quit, the gum really helped me.
6
Jun 04, 2009 at 06:54 PM Anonymous Says:
Oh Vey Mr. Bumberg. If less people smoke this means less tax income. So what do you plan to tax us next?
7
Jun 04, 2009 at 06:49 PM mr613 Says:
Smoke away thousands of public school children depend on you. (tabaco tax goes towards education)
8
Jun 04, 2009 at 08:24 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Oh Vey Mr. Bumberg. If less people smoke this means less tax income. So what do you plan to tax us next? ”
you took the words out of my mouth I reallly feel bad for him.
9
Jun 04, 2009 at 09:27 PM Anonymous Says:
about time....
10
Jun 04, 2009 at 11:13 PM Anonymous Says:
Ganavim.
11
Jun 05, 2009 at 03:29 AM enjoying to smoke Says:
There's much more junk food in the stores that harms u even more then cigarettes, n on that they don't put higher tax's, its about time they should stop selling all this junk food, it kills our children who think they need every kind of candy when they see it on the shelf, its harmful for the teeth n immune system
12
Jun 05, 2009 at 01:01 AM Anonymous Says:
How can it be that the tax is only $5.25 when in virginia and florida its only $3.25 a pack are thaese states buying it at a better price?
13
Jun 05, 2009 at 08:07 AM Hatzoloh member Says:
The tax should $20 dollers a pack
14
Jun 05, 2009 at 10:26 AM BB Says:
I think its tyrannical to legislate legal behaivour. I don't see why tobacco products or spirits should be subjected to a "sin-tax". Who defines whats "sinful"? President B. Hussein O? Generalissimo Bloomberg? Its NOT the governments roll to regulate how and what we do to ourselves. Its pure unadulterated tyranny! Don't be fooled in thinking that the taxes imposed is to stop smoking. If every smoker in the country quit this second, all aspects of government, federal, state and local would suffer huge deficits. The thing is, smoking (and drinking) are addictive. This means despite whatever taxes imposed, people will still engage in these activities and that translates to more money for the government. Its a revenue generator....for New Yorkers, think PARKING TICKETS....they're not for revenue..they're there to ensure parking regulations.....riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
15
Jun 07, 2009 at 08:41 PM PMO Says:
More abuse of power in the Communist Republic of New York.
I'm sure all you self-righteous folks would just LOVE to blame Obama for this one... but in reality plenty of states, including my own (FL), are selling cigs for about $3/pack. While the taxes make up over 30% of that, it is not nearly as bad as what the communists in NY have done.
What will you all do when all the smokers quit? Who will pay for all the pathetic low-lifes who live on welfare, WIC and food stamps because they are to stupid, ignorant, or lazy to get a JOB.
Maybe they will start a tax on imported hats! That would be FANTASTIC to watch. People don't NEED hats... they are a luxury.... so they should be taxed at 500%. What will we do without Borsalino?