Team Biden’s War On Cigarettes Will Only End In Tears
The Biden administration is taking a hard-line stance on cigarettes, which is likely to have devastating effects in the United States. President Biden has already declared that he wants to reduce smoking to a “rare occurrence” and has declared war on the tobacco industry.
The Biden administration’s approach to curbing cigarette smoking is multi-pronged and includes significant tax hikes, strict regulations, and increased public health messages. One of the most significant steps taken by the Biden administration was the announcement that the federal government would raise the cigarette tax from its current rate of $1.01 per pack to $3.21 per pack. The Biden administration also raised taxes on cigars and other tobacco products and increased restrictions on flavored tobacco products.
The Biden administration’s war on cigarettes is likely to have severe and long-term consequences for public health and the economy. Sadly, this war on cigarettes is likely to do more harm than good, and could result in fewer people quitting smoking, an increase in illicit tobacco trade, and a reduction in cigarette tax revenues.
The rationale behind the Biden administration’s push for a reduction in smoking is understandable; however, their approach ignores the realities of the tobacco industry and the reality that cigarette taxes are a regressive tool. Cigarette taxes will primarily affect low-income earners and marginalized communities, because smokers on lower incomes have fewer resources to quit the habit.
Moreover, the Biden administration’s approach is unlikely to be successful in reducing the prevalence of smoking; rather, it will create a black market for cigarettes and other tobacco products, while pushing people to find ways to circumvent the proposed taxes. The increase in taxes on cigarettes also has the potential to lead to an increase in illicit tobacco trade, resulting in significant losses in tax revenues.
It is worth noting that the reduction of smoking prevalence in other countries came as a result of comprehensive policies that took a broader approach to public health. Policies such as subsidizing the cost of quitting, providing quit-smoking messages and materials, and providing quit-smoking medications were all shown to dramatically reduce smoking prevalence.
The Biden administration’s war on cigarettes will likely only end in tears; it is likely to have a negative impact on public health and the economy, while ignoring the broad range of evidence-based solutions to reducing smoking prevalence. Rather than focusing on a punitive approach to reducing smoking, the Biden administration should focus on comprehensive public health strategies that address the root causes of smoking, such as poverty and a lack of access to healthcare.