From a public health standpoint, there is good news and bad news when it comes to the increase in the tobacco tax passed by the Kentucky General Assembly this year. Our legislature again failed to take serious action themselves by passing a more significant increase that would put a bigger dent in our smoking rates, not to mention generate more new revenue for the state budget. But the good news is that, combined with the 62 cent increase in the federal cigarette tax passed by the U.S. Congress, Kentucky's 30 cent increase really will help reduce tobacco related death and disease in the Commonwealth. 

As a recent USA Today editorial points out, smokers across the nation have responded to the increased cost of cigarettes just as we said they would - by trying to quit.  Calls to state quitlines (ours is 1-800-QUIT NOW so share that with friends and family members who might be trying to quit!) have dramatically increased since the federal increase was enacted on March 31, just one day before the Kentucky increase went into effect. The editorial also highlights, once again, Kentucky's shameful status as the state with the highest smoking rates - and a relatively low tax. At 60 cents a pack, we're still 38th in the nation. Rhode Island just passed a $1 cigarette tax increase last week, and became the first state to go over $3 a pack, bringing the national average to $1.23.  There is still ample room for Kentucky to move closer to the national average, if not beyond it. A problem as costly as tobacco use in dollars and lives, deserves bold action from our state lawmakers.