Tobacco.org

Cigarette Tax Increase Brings a Surge in 311 Calls 

The health department, which has waged a relentless campaign against smoking since 2002, began a public outreach campaign arguing that smokers could save about $3,000 a year if they quit a pack-a-day habit.

The surge in 311 calls does not mean that the tax increase will inevitably result in less smoking; many smokers who try to quit fail to do so, at least on the first try. But officials said they thought the 311 numbers gave them cause for optimism.

“Most smokers want to quit,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the health commissioner. “And the extra push of a higher price results in many smokers stopping smoking forever."

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