Utah wins guarded praise for raising cigarette taxes

WASHINGTON — The American Lung Association praised Utah Wednesday for hiking its cigarette taxes — but it wishes the taxes were even higher.

Association President John L. Kirkwood said his organization would like to see taxes of $1 per pack in each state to discourage smoking. He said some progress toward that goal came as five states recently approved some tax increases.

Utah was among them, approving a hike to 69.5 cents per pack effective July 1.

Other states that approved new tax hikes so far this year include New York ($1.50 per pack); Connecticut ($1.11 per pack); Maryland ($1 per pack); and Nebraska (66 cents a pack).

The association said Utah now will have the 14th highest cigarette tax among the 50 states but said it would really like to see it reach $1 a pack.

"Eight states now tax cigarettes at $1 or more per pack," Kirkwood said. "That's great news because we know that increasing the price of cigarettes is an effective way to discourage smoking and prevent kids from starting to smoke."

Kirkwood added that he predicted earlier this year that cigarette taxes of $1 or more per pack would soon be the norm instead of the exception. "We are clearly gaining on that goal," he said.

Kirkwood added, "Clearly a growing number of states are recognizing the benefits of significant increases in their tobacco taxes."

He said, "If you want to keep kids from smoking, motivate adults to stop, fund comprehensive tobacco-control programs, trim future heath care costs and raise new dollars to plug gaping budget holes, then increase your tobacco excise taxes."