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New Report: Increasing Massachusetts’ Cigarette Tax Will Reduce Smoking, Save Lives and Save Money  

a report released today finds that a proposed $1 cigarette tax increase would raise more than $150 million in new revenue and also drastically reduce youth smoking, cause many smokers to quit, reduce tobacco-related health care costs and save thousands of lives.

The 30-page report by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids – titled “Tobacco Tax Benefits for Massachusetts: Reducing Smoking, Saving Lives, and Saving Money” – finds that a $1 cigarette tax increase would:

* Prevent more than 46,000 Massachusetts kids from becoming smokers;

* Spur 25,800 current adult smokers to quit for good; . . .

“This report provides powerful evidence that increasing the cigarette tax by $1 will improve both the physical and financial health of Massachusetts for generations to come,” said William V. Corr, Executive Director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “We strongly urge Massachusetts’ leaders to pass this life-saving measure and dedicate a portion of the new revenue to the state’s tobacco prevention efforts and other vital health care initiatives.”

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