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05.29.08 The Tobacco Control Partners of the Lower Hudson Valley Holds Sixth Annual No Thanks, Big Tobacco Appreciation Event - Business Wire (PDF)
05.21.08 Tobacco Control Partners of Low Hud Valley Honor Local Business People at 'No Thanks' Event - Putnam County News (PDF)
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College dorm smoking ban led by local lawmakers (Midhudson News)
ALBANY - The American Lung Association of New York State Tuesday applauded the New York State Assembly and Senate for acting to protect college students from deadly secondhand smoke.
Sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of Westchester County and Senator Vincent Leibell of Putnam County, the legislation prohibits smoking in dormitories and other group residential facilities of public and private colleges and universities in New York.
"Secondhand tobacco smoke kills," said Michael Seilback, senior director of Public Policy and Advocacy. "College students should end their academic careers with a diploma, not an increased risk of cancer due to years of secondhand smoke exposure."
Secondhand smoke is responsible for 54,000 deaths each year in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies secondhand smoke as a "Group A" known carcinogen. Moreover, there is no safe level of exposure to "Group A" carcinogens like secondhand tobacco smoke. This category is reserved for the most dangerous cancer-causing chemicals and includes such toxins as benzene and asbestos.
Exposure to secondhand smoke during everyday activities can lead to a much higher lifetime risk of lung cancer. Secondhand smoke has also been scientifically linked to contributing and causing dozens of diseases and illnesses including asthma, heart disease, respiratory tract infections and ear infections.
The tobacco industry has increased significantly its advertising and marketing campaigns at the 18-24 year old age group.
"Although smoking among college students continues to increase, college students are 47 percent less likely to smoke if they live in smokefree dorms," said Seilback.
On January 11, 2007, the New York State Board of Regents voted to ban smoking in all dormitories on the State University campuses. Once signed into law by Governor David Paterson, this measure will extend smokefree living conditions to students in private colleges and universities.
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State's goal: Pay more, smoke less (Albany Bureau)
by Dan Osburn
Health officials in New York tried to find a bright side to the state's $1.25 increase in the cigarette tax effective yesterday: It may help more people quit smoking.
The increase makes New York's cigarette tax the highest in the nation, pushing the total state tax to $2.75 per pack. The tax will bring the average price per pack to about $7. The higher tax is expected to generate $436 million for the state.
State health officials and health advocates hope the tax increase will dramatically reduce the number of smokers in the state.
"Less smokers means less tobacco-related illness," said Michael Seilback, senior director of public policy for the state chapter of the American Lung Association. "By making smoking expensive and inconvenient, the increase will eventually save the lives of over 77,000 New York youth who will be prevented from becoming smokers."
Some smokers said the higher tax will prompt them to quit. Albany resident Eric Mantey, 33, has been smoking for 15 years. He said yesterday, as he was purchasing his "last pack," that he would try to kick the habit. "I had quit for years and restarted six months ago," he said. "It's too much money for me to justify the habit."
State Health Commissioner Richard Daines called the tax increase a "really important step forward" in particular to stop teenagers from ever picking up the habit.
"Youth are particularly sensitive to tobacco prices," he said. "The ways to avoid taxes aren't available to them. When cigarettes go up by a $1.25 they spend their money on something else."
In 2006, there were 2.8 million adult smokers in the state, or 18.2 percent of the state's over-18 population, said Brian Marchetti of the American Lung Association of New York State. There were 180,000 high school student smokers in 2006, or 16.3 percent of the state's high school students.
Daines said he expects about 30 percent of New York smokers will take measures to avoid paying the tax, such as buying in other states where cigarettes are less taxed. James Calvin, president of the state Convenience Store Association, said the projected revenue from the tax increase is "pure fiction."
He said most smokers would dodge the tax by going to a neighboring state, buying on tax-free American Indian reservations or buying over the Internet.
"This is a public health disaster," Calvin said. "Please tell me, Dr. Daines, how it's a public health victory if 30 percent of smokers, rather than quitting smoking, shift their purchases to the tax-free side of the street and continue smoking?" Not only will convenience store owners lose 15 percent to 40 percent of their cigarette revenue, they will lose money on everything from snacks to milk to any other product smokers buy when they go to convenience stores, Calvin said.
The cigarette tax is lower in every state bordering New York. Pennsylvania has a tax of $1.35 per pack; Vermont charges $1.79; Massachusetts charges $1.51; Connecticut charges $2; and New Jersey charges $2.57.
Just down the hill from the state Capitol, where the tax-increase legislation was enacted, Smoker's Choice tobacco outlet customers were paying the increased price yesterday and complaining.
"I think it's crazy, it's absurd," said Greg Peterson, 27, of Latham, Albany County, a smoker for 15 years. "Officially today we are the highest-priced state." Shawn Cobbins, 37-year-old Albany employee of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and a smoker for 10 years, said, "It's either gas your car up or stop smoking cigarettes." Jim Welch, owner of Jim's Place convenience store in Albany, said, "When things like this happen sales go to the corporate-owned tobacco stores and leave the mom-and-pop stores high and dry."
Smoker's Choice was advertising bags of loose tobacco to be hand-rolled into cigarettes, which is a cheaper alternative to buying packaged cigarettes affected by the tax. Tom Bergin, spokesman for the state Tax Department, said consumers are not additionally taxed for the purchase of loose tobacco, but wholesalers are. So, Bergin said, wholesalers are likely to pass the additional cost onto consumers.
Daniel Miles, an employee of Smoker's Choice, said a pound bag of tobacco could net 500 to 600 cigarettes and costs about $20.
State Health Department spokeswoman Claire Pospicil said hand-rolling probably won't appeal to most smokers and shouldn't undermine the quitting the department hopes will be spurred by the tax increase.
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Increased tobacco tax kicks in; anti-smoking groups say "quit" (Mid-Hudson News)
Cigarettes now cost an additional $1.25 per pack now that the state tax increased Tuesday. Total state tax is now $2.75 per pack. That’s driving more smokers across the state line to Pennsylvania, known for low tobacco prices.
POW’R Against Tobacco, a coalition group from Putnam, Orange, Westchester and Rockland counties, says there is a better option. POW’R took the occasion to urge people to stop smoking, or not take it up in the first place.
"By making this tax increase, eventually the lives of over 77,000 youths will be repented from becoming smokers and more than 37,000 adult New York smokers will avoid a tobacco caused death by quitting," said Maureen Kenney, director of POW’R.
For those smokers who won’t quit, Kenney said buying cigarettes will increase the state coffers through the increased tax.
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02.18.08 Chain to stop selling tobacco products - The Journal News (PDF)
02.16.08 Cities sign on to effort to curb tobacco advertising - The Journal News (PDF)
2007 Long Island/ Hudson Valley Survey 2007
05.29.08 The Tobacco Control Partners of the Lower Hudson Valley Holds Sixth Annual No Thanks, Big Tobacco Appreciation Event - Business Wire (PDF)
05.21.08 Tobacco Control Partners of Low Hud Valley Honor Local Business People at 'No Thanks' Event - Putnam County News (PDF)
---------------------------------------------------------
College dorm smoking ban led by local lawmakers (Midhudson News)
ALBANY - The American Lung Association of New York State Tuesday applauded the New York State Assembly and Senate for acting to protect college students from deadly secondhand smoke.
Sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of Westchester County and Senator Vincent Leibell of Putnam County, the legislation prohibits smoking in dormitories and other group residential facilities of public and private colleges and universities in New York.
"Secondhand tobacco smoke kills," said Michael Seilback, senior director of Public Policy and Advocacy. "College students should end their academic careers with a diploma, not an increased risk of cancer due to years of secondhand smoke exposure."
Secondhand smoke is responsible for 54,000 deaths each year in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies secondhand smoke as a "Group A" known carcinogen. Moreover, there is no safe level of exposure to "Group A" carcinogens like secondhand tobacco smoke. This category is reserved for the most dangerous cancer-causing chemicals and includes such toxins as benzene and asbestos.
Exposure to secondhand smoke during everyday activities can lead to a much higher lifetime risk of lung cancer. Secondhand smoke has also been scientifically linked to contributing and causing dozens of diseases and illnesses including asthma, heart disease, respiratory tract infections and ear infections.
The tobacco industry has increased significantly its advertising and marketing campaigns at the 18-24 year old age group.
"Although smoking among college students continues to increase, college students are 47 percent less likely to smoke if they live in smokefree dorms," said Seilback.
On January 11, 2007, the New York State Board of Regents voted to ban smoking in all dormitories on the State University campuses. Once signed into law by Governor David Paterson, this measure will extend smokefree living conditions to students in private colleges and universities.
---------------------------------------------------------
State's goal: Pay more, smoke less (Albany Bureau)
by Dan Osburn
Health officials in New York tried to find a bright side to the state's $1.25 increase in the cigarette tax effective yesterday: It may help more people quit smoking.
The increase makes New York's cigarette tax the highest in the nation, pushing the total state tax to $2.75 per pack. The tax will bring the average price per pack to about $7. The higher tax is expected to generate $436 million for the state.
State health officials and health advocates hope the tax increase will dramatically reduce the number of smokers in the state.
"Less smokers means less tobacco-related illness," said Michael Seilback, senior director of public policy for the state chapter of the American Lung Association. "By making smoking expensive and inconvenient, the increase will eventually save the lives of over 77,000 New York youth who will be prevented from becoming smokers."
Some smokers said the higher tax will prompt them to quit. Albany resident Eric Mantey, 33, has been smoking for 15 years. He said yesterday, as he was purchasing his "last pack," that he would try to kick the habit. "I had quit for years and restarted six months ago," he said. "It's too much money for me to justify the habit."
State Health Commissioner Richard Daines called the tax increase a "really important step forward" in particular to stop teenagers from ever picking up the habit.
"Youth are particularly sensitive to tobacco prices," he said. "The ways to avoid taxes aren't available to them. When cigarettes go up by a $1.25 they spend their money on something else."
In 2006, there were 2.8 million adult smokers in the state, or 18.2 percent of the state's over-18 population, said Brian Marchetti of the American Lung Association of New York State. There were 180,000 high school student smokers in 2006, or 16.3 percent of the state's high school students.
Daines said he expects about 30 percent of New York smokers will take measures to avoid paying the tax, such as buying in other states where cigarettes are less taxed. James Calvin, president of the state Convenience Store Association, said the projected revenue from the tax increase is "pure fiction."
He said most smokers would dodge the tax by going to a neighboring state, buying on tax-free American Indian reservations or buying over the Internet.
"This is a public health disaster," Calvin said. "Please tell me, Dr. Daines, how it's a public health victory if 30 percent of smokers, rather than quitting smoking, shift their purchases to the tax-free side of the street and continue smoking?" Not only will convenience store owners lose 15 percent to 40 percent of their cigarette revenue, they will lose money on everything from snacks to milk to any other product smokers buy when they go to convenience stores, Calvin said.
The cigarette tax is lower in every state bordering New York. Pennsylvania has a tax of $1.35 per pack; Vermont charges $1.79; Massachusetts charges $1.51; Connecticut charges $2; and New Jersey charges $2.57.
Just down the hill from the state Capitol, where the tax-increase legislation was enacted, Smoker's Choice tobacco outlet customers were paying the increased price yesterday and complaining.
"I think it's crazy, it's absurd," said Greg Peterson, 27, of Latham, Albany County, a smoker for 15 years. "Officially today we are the highest-priced state." Shawn Cobbins, 37-year-old Albany employee of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and a smoker for 10 years, said, "It's either gas your car up or stop smoking cigarettes." Jim Welch, owner of Jim's Place convenience store in Albany, said, "When things like this happen sales go to the corporate-owned tobacco stores and leave the mom-and-pop stores high and dry."
Smoker's Choice was advertising bags of loose tobacco to be hand-rolled into cigarettes, which is a cheaper alternative to buying packaged cigarettes affected by the tax. Tom Bergin, spokesman for the state Tax Department, said consumers are not additionally taxed for the purchase of loose tobacco, but wholesalers are. So, Bergin said, wholesalers are likely to pass the additional cost onto consumers.
Daniel Miles, an employee of Smoker's Choice, said a pound bag of tobacco could net 500 to 600 cigarettes and costs about $20.
State Health Department spokeswoman Claire Pospicil said hand-rolling probably won't appeal to most smokers and shouldn't undermine the quitting the department hopes will be spurred by the tax increase.
---------------------------------------------------------
Increased tobacco tax kicks in; anti-smoking groups say "quit" (Mid-Hudson News)
Cigarettes now cost an additional $1.25 per pack now that the state tax increased Tuesday. Total state tax is now $2.75 per pack. That’s driving more smokers across the state line to Pennsylvania, known for low tobacco prices.
POW’R Against Tobacco, a coalition group from Putnam, Orange, Westchester and Rockland counties, says there is a better option. POW’R took the occasion to urge people to stop smoking, or not take it up in the first place.
"By making this tax increase, eventually the lives of over 77,000 youths will be repented from becoming smokers and more than 37,000 adult New York smokers will avoid a tobacco caused death by quitting," said Maureen Kenney, director of POW’R.
For those smokers who won’t quit, Kenney said buying cigarettes will increase the state coffers through the increased tax.
---------------------------------------------------------
02.18.08 Chain to stop selling tobacco products - The Journal News (PDF)
02.16.08 Cities sign on to effort to curb tobacco advertising - The Journal News (PDF)
2007 Long Island/ Hudson Valley Survey 2007