SmokeFree Wisconsin: Report Shows Tobacco Tax Loopholes Preventing Real Progress in Reducing Smoking Rates

Contact: Laura Smith, Communications Specialist, 608.556.5055

Madison, Wis. – August 2, 2012 – SmokeFree Wisconsin today highlighted the need for equalized tax and regulation of all tobacco products, following today’s CDC report that shows a dramatic rise in use of non-cigarette smoked tobacco products. From 2010-2011, total cigarette consumption declined 2.5%, while use of other smoked tobacco products rose more than 17%, according to the CDC. The trends demonstrate that tobacco tax loopholes are slowing progress in reducing smoking by allowing cheap tobacco products to stay on the market.

“Cheap, tax-evading tobacco products are encouraging kids to start smoking and making it more difficult for adults to reduce smoking or better yet, quit for good,” Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of SmokeFree Wisconsin, said. “We have worked hard in this state throughout the last decade to decrease youth and adult smoking rates through the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. Our progress in reducing smoking is being threatened by tobacco tax loopholes. Our state’s elected officials must stand up and protect the public from the burden of tobacco by ensuring all tobacco products are taxed equally.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) article, “Consumption of Cigarettes and Combustible Tobacco—United States, 2000–2011,” reports that while overall cigarette use has dropped over eleven years (2000-2011) by nearly a third (32.8%), consumption of non-cigarette combustible tobacco products has more than doubled. During that same time, consumption of pipe tobacco (which is currently used in roll-your-own machines) – has increased almost five-fold. Loose tobacco (+123%) and large cigar (+233%) consumption have more than doubled as well. View the full report here: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6130a1.htm?s_cid=mm6130a1_w

Research shows that making cigarettes more affordable and more accessible increases smoking rates, especially in youth. Cigarette-like cigars and roll-your-own products evade the state cigarette tax and increase the burden of tobacco in Wisconsin.

Tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable death in Wisconsin. Nearly 8,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, and health care costs and lost productivity total $4.5 billion a year in Wisconsin.

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