Saves Lives
Higher Tobacco Prices Prevent Kids From Smoking and Save Lives
Increasing the tobacco tax is one of the most effective ways we have to reduce tobacco use and improve the health of Minnesota. It will:
Prevent Minnesota kids from a life-long struggle with tobacco addiction
Youth are two to three times more responsive to price increases and are more likely to quit or cut back smoking in order to avoid paying more for cigarettes.
Motivate more current Minnesota smokers to quit
When Minnesota raised its tobacco tax by 75 cents in 2005, 31.1 percent of former smokers reported that they had made an attempt to quit as a result of the increase.
Save Minnesotans’ lives
A $1.50/pack increase in the tobacco tax would save 25,700 Minnesota lives.
Reduce Minnesotans’ health costs
A $1.50/pack increase in the tobacco tax would save about $1.65 billion in long-term tobacco-related health costs in Minnesota.
- A $1.50/pack increase in the tobacco tax will save about $1.65 billion in long-term tobacco-related health costs in Minnesota.
- A $1.50/pack increase in the tobacco tax would save 25,700 Minnesota lives.
- A $1.50/pack increase in the tobacco tax will prevent an estimated 47,700 Minnesota kids from becoming addicted to tobacco.
- 625,000 Minnesotans still smoke.
- Minnesota’s 18-to-24 year-olds smoke more than any other age group.