|
Tobacco Pricing
Research
A longitudinal analysis of cigarette prices in military retail outlets – American Journal of Public Health. A comparison of prices of Marlboro Red cigarettes at military retail stores paired against local Walmart stores from 2011 to 2013 found that tobacco can be purchased in military retail stores at substantial savings over civilian stores. The price difference decreased from 24.5% to 12.5% over the course of the study, in part because of price decreases at surveyed Walmart stores. Study authors call for a revision of military tobacco pricing policy to close the remaining cigarette price gap. Click here to learn more.
top
State Policy
Crackdown on illegal cigarette sales eyed (MA) – The Boston Globe. To counteract sales of illegal cigarettes in Massachusetts, the state’s Illegal Tobacco Commission recommended measures to combat cigarette traffickers and capture hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue, including increased fines and penalties for selling untaxed cigarettes, more money for enforcement, and creation of a task force to address cigarette trafficking.
Proposed tobacco tax hike debated by Ohio groups (OH) – AP. Gov. John Kasich's plan to increase the tobacco tax by 60 cents to help fund a state income-tax cut is getting mixed reviews. Retailers and grocers say the move will hurt their profits and cost jobs, while public health organizations such as the American Lung Association and American Heart Association contend the tax hike should be larger.
top
National Policy
President's plan to expand early education with a tobacco tax will protect kids and save lives – Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. A press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids praises President Obama’s proposal of a 94-cent increase to the federal cigarette tax. The tobacco tax, part of Obama’s FY 2015 budget to be considered by Congress, would raise $78 billion over 10 years to fund early childhood education initiatives also proposed by the president. A similar proposal failed to gain traction last year. Click here to read more.
top
Back to Table of Contents
|
