Tobacco.org

Smoking habit gets more costly  

But while Kelley and countless other smokers are sick of paying more for cigarettes, health groups are celebrating.

Those groups helped convince state lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist this spring to boost taxes on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco -- thanks, in large part, to the expectation that the increased taxes will bring in about $946 million during the coming year for the cash-strapped state.

Brenda Olsen, an American Lung Association official who has long worked on tobacco issues in Florida, said the tax increases particularly will help prevent smoking by teens, who are sensitive to higher prices.

"What we've seen in other states around the country, historically, is it's the biggest deterrent to youths ever starting to smoke," Olsen said.

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