Letter: Focus Anger Over Tax Hike Onto Smoking

by Contributor | May 26, 2008 8:51 pm

To the Editor:

The cost of cigarettes is going up June 3rd. If ever a time can be motivating for smokers to quit, it is now. Smokers may understandably be angry at the cost increase. However, they can redirect their “fuming” over the increased cost of smoking to the cigarettes themselves and how much harm they do to a smoker.

Keeping the cost of cigarettes high helps smokers in two ways. First, the high cost encourages many smokers to quit, which lets them bank extra dollars–saving them hundreds, if not thousands—a year. Most important, they can bank priceless health benefits.

Second, no one wants his or her children using cigarettes. Higher taxes discourage kids from starting to smoke.

The June 3rd increase in the cost of cigarettes is expected to motivate about 140,000 New York smokers to quit for good.

The time to quit is now and there is help available. The New York State Smokers Quitline offers free coaching and quit plans, free nicotine patches, gum and lozenges, free tips and information and free online help. The toll-free Quitline number is 1-866-NY QUITS (1-866-697-8487). More information is also available on the Quitline web site at www.nysmokefree.com.

Christina Wilson, Director
Tobacco Free Network of Oswego County
157 West First Street, Oswego

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/letter-focus-anger-over-tax-hike-onto-smoking/

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