Tobacco Tax is a Win Win

 

Vermont is currently spending $348 million each year to treat smoking-related illness, $72 million of which are taxpayer-funded Medicaid expenditures.  We need to do more to reduce tobacco use and this financial burden.

Increasing Vermont’s cigarette tax by $1.25 is part of the answer.  It will prevent 2,400 kids from becoming smokers and spur 2,700 adult smokers to quit.  This translates into a savings of $96 million in long-term health care costs. 

At a time when the Vermont legislature is looking for more and more ways to reduce the deficit, this is a win-win that improves the health of Vermonters while improving the state’s fiscal outlook.

Urge Vermont legislators to make tobacco prevention a priority. Take action now at: https://yourethecure.org/aha/advocacy/actioncenter.aspx

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