The recent proposition by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle to increase the cigarette tax $1.25 per pack, and eventually put a ban on smoking in public places, on the surface looks futile, but when examining the entire picture, the prospective law will certainly benefit the state of Wisconsin .
Recent studies have shown that cigarettes are one of the most harmful legal products. They not only damage their users, but they also harm those who aren’t through secondhand smoke.
Smoking has been proven to be a problem throughout the United States but statistics show that Wisconsin is one of the front-runners in tobacco consumption.
In 2004, 22 percent of Wisconsin adults admitted to being smokers, one percent higher than that of the entire United States. Additionally, almost 8,000 Wisconsin residents died as a result of cigarette-related complications. In light of these statistics, definitive action must be taken by the state authorities in an attempt to curb the consumption and consequences of cigarettes.
Opponents say the tax is useless and will have no bearing on the amount of cigarettes purchased. However, statistics of dramatic tobacco tax increases show differently.
In early 2004, Wyoming implemented a 48 cents tax increase (from 12 cents to 60 cents) per carton of cigarettes and saw productive results. Their per capita cigarette sales dramatically dropped from a steep 116 in 2003 to a mere 48 the following year. Not so coincidentally, their smoking-related death rate also dropped from 10,000 in 2000 to about 1,000 in 2004.
While the proposed Wisconsin tax shows promise in regulating the amount of smokers and smoke-related deaths, it will potentially have a great impact on the amount of underage smokers as well. Most adults have a steady income and have the ability to cover the added cost, but the same isn’t true for high school and college kids.
The additional $1.25 will ultimately become too financially burdensome for the teenage generation and will essentially prevent thousands of Wisconsin citizens from starting to smoke. Preventing teenagers from beginning to smoke reduces the number of smokers in the future as the appeal of tobacco lessens with maturity.
If the proposed tax does indeed pass and the number of smokers stays relatively constant, Wisconsin is projected to collect $250 million next year on cigarettes alone. This amount of money has the ability to greatly benefit the tax-paying citizens of Wisconsin namely by reducing health care costs.
Governor Doyle contends that increasing the cigarette tax would make Wisconsin a nationwide leader in tobacco prevention As an elected official, Doyle must do what is best for the health and well-being of Wisconsin residents, which is what the proposed tax aims to do. The prospective cigarette tax does indeed appear to be a legitimate way to regulate statewide smoking and the deaths that come as a direct effect.
This law will benefit Wisconsin by improving the quality of life of ourselves and our fellow citizens. Furthermore, I support Gov Doyle and his prospective tax on cigarettes.