Michael, there have been really mixed results in general with raising the price of cigarettes, in terms of reducing the numbers of people who smoke. Personally, I believe the idea would work better if more intensive stop-smoking programs were offered along with the increase in price. I think many people want to quit, but just cannot. There is a new prescription drug to help people quit, for example, and I don't think this information is getting to the working poor who need it the most.
I heard a politician suggest this morning on ABC's Sunday show (sorry, I wasn't listening carefully enough to get his name) that we raise the price so that more people quit smoking, but issue tax credits of some sort with it, instead of spending the money on new programs. That way, the price would still be an obstacle to teenagers, but adults would get something back.
The evidence is more conclusive, from the articles I have read anyway, that teenagers are very sensitive to cigarette price, and that in this market raising the price does reduce smoking. Obviously, if the cigarette companies cannot get another generation of children hooked on tobacco their domestic cigarette business will fade as the current smokers die. So I think you will see a very cynical campaign by the manufacturers to make sure teenaged smoking is not restricted.
I hope not everyone falls for the libertarian argument on this, though. How would you feel if your children started smoking when they get to be fourteen? I don't think you can assume they will not, no matter how hard you try. Many of them do it just to rebel against their parents, and at that age they spend quite a lot of time out of your direct control. |
