The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is expressing strong disappointment with the final passage of HB 337, Nicotine Product Tax Amendments. Unfortunately, after relentless pressure from Big Tobacco, the state legislature compromised and voted to increase the cigarette tax by just 50 cents per pack, which will have little to no public health benefit.
ACS CAN supported a proposal to increase the cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack to benefit the health of all Utahns. Had the legislature not caved to the immense pressure forced by tobacco lobbyists, the increase in the original bill would have saved 2,100 lives, helped 5,800 adults who smoke quit, reduced youth smoking rates by 13.6 percent, and saved $116.27 million in long-term health care costs from adult and youth smoking declines.
“After 16 years of not raising the cigarette tax, the legislature finally had a chance to secure a public health victory, but the final bill that passed is nothing to celebrate,” said Brook Carlisle, ACS CAN Utah Government Relations Director. “On behalf of all cancer and public health advocates, I am expressing concern about Big Tobacco’s influence in Utah. The evidence is clear – a significant cigarette tax increase helps people who smoke quit and prevent youth from starting to use any tobacco product. There is nothing significant about the increase in this bill. Big Tobacco is working hard to hook future generations with deadly and addictive tobacco products and the need for action is long overdue. Simply put, this outcome is disappointing and a missed opportunity for our state.”
A $2.00 per pack increase proposal received strong support from likely voters in Utah with 71 percent saying they agree with such an increase and 74 percent supporting raising taxes on all other tobacco products.
ACS CAN is now urging Governor Spencer Cox to send a strong message to the tobacco industry and protect future generations of Utahns by vetoing HB 337.