$2 Tax on Tobacco Needed to Curb Teen Smoking

American Cancer Society
Friday, 10 October 1997

Washington 1997/10/10 -The Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society, John R. Seffrin Ph.D., testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today asking Congress to enact legislation that protects the health of American citizens from the harms of tobacco and saves millions of lives.

Dr. Seffrin outlined a four-pronged approach to curb tobacco use. The approach includes:

An immediately-imposed $2.00 tax on all tobacco products. Full and unfettered Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco products. Performance standards for reduction of youth consumption of tobacco products, combined with significant industry penalties if tobacco use among children does not drop substantially. Authorizing and encouraging state and local governments to enact measures equal to, or more stringent than, Federal measures to reduce tobacco use.

Dr. Seffrin said "We need comprehensive, sustainable and fully funded legislation which uses this four-pronged approach to ensure an effective national tobacco control policy."

"We can reduce teenage smoking by 73% if we increase the tobacco tax by $2.00. This would save the lives of more than 3.8 million children." Dr. Seffrin noted.

"A substantial price increase is necessary because tobacco manufacturers historically discount tobacco products to offset marginal tax increases. The tax should be inflation adjusted to prevent its efficacy from being diluted over time. The tax must be applied to all tobacco products, not just cigarettes.," said Dr. Seffrin.

"A comprehensive tobacco control policy recognizes that the tax increase must also be linked to tough penalties on the tobacco industry if tobacco use among children does not drop substantially. The penalties should be non tax-deductible, uncapped, escalating, and brand-specific to youth smoking to give the tobacco industry the strongest possible incentive to stop targeting children," Dr. Seffiin said.

"Any comprehensive national tobacco control policy approach must also recognize the importance of public health initiatives at the state and local level. Yet without a national tobacco control policy, in conjunction with state efforts, this nation loses the ability to regulate tobacco and tobacco products, to protect and prevent children from smoking and to not allow marketing to our youth. These initiatives must address the harms of environmental tobacco, the benefits of smoking cessation programs, research needs, and the opportunity to enhance and encourage federal and state education programs," added Dr. Seffrin.

"The American Cancer Society believes that legislation adopting the recommendations set forth above will result in establishment of an effective tobacco control program with shared Federal and state responsibility, that will result in the savings of millions of lives from tobacco caused diseases. As such, it would constitute the most effective public health legislation ever enacted in this country," Dr. Seffrin concluded.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org