|
In March 2007, Iowa’s cigarette tax increased by $1.00, to $1.36 per pack. According to a poll released by the American Lung Association of Iowa and its partners the following November, the $1.00 increase was the reason that more than half of Iowa’s smokers quit in 2007.
Studies have shown repeatedly that an increase in the price of cigarettes has a significant impact on smoking rates. For every 10 percent increase in the cost of a pack of cigarettes, there is a seven percent reduction in youth smoking and a three to four percent reduction in adult smoking. In Iowa, those statistics resulted in hundreds of lives saved.
The poll also found that smokers who have not yet quit are likely to reduce their smoking or ultimately cut back all together because of the cigarette tax increase. Among those Iowans who continue to smoke, 41 percent say the tax increase has made them more likely to quit, and 16 percent said they are more likely to smoke fewer cigarettes.
In 2006, 21.5 percent of Iowa adults and 22.5 percent of Iowa’s high school students were smokers.
The Daily Iowan published a story about the increase. Read here...
Maryland and Wisconsin Increase Their Taxes
On January 1, 2008, Maryland and Wisconsin each increased their state cigarette tax by $1.00. Below are links to news articles chronicling smokers’ plans to quit once the cost per pack increased.
Herald-Mail, Maryland
Sheboygan Press, Wisconsin | 
