Posted on 06/02/2005 4:08:59 PM PDT by qam1
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth St, Room 331, CN #28, New York, NY 10013. tfrieden@health.nyc.gov.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the impact of comprehensive tobacco control measures in New York City.
METHODS: In 2002, New York City implemented a tobacco control strategy of (1) increased cigarette excise taxes; (2) legal action that made virtually all work-places, including bars and restaurants, smoke free; (3) increased cessation services, including a large-scale free nicotine-patch program; (4) education; and (5) evaluation. The health department also began annual surveys on a broad array of health measures, including smoking.
RESULTS: From 2002 to 2003, smoking prevalence among New York City adults decreased by 11% (from 21.6% to 19.2%, approximately 140000 fewer smokers). Smoking declined among all age groups, race/ethnicities, and education levels; in both genders; among both US-born and foreign-born persons; and in all 5 boroughs. Increased taxation appeared to account for the largest proportion of the decrease; however, between 2002 and 2003 the proportion of cigarettes purchased outside New York City doubled, reducing the effective price increase by a third.
CONCLUSIONS: Concerted local action can sharply reduce smoking prevalence. However, further progress will require national action, particularly to increase cigarette taxes, reduce cigarette tax evasion, expand education and cessation services, and limit tobacco marketing.
PMID: 15914827 [PubMed - in process]
FYI
... however, between 2002 and 2003 the proportion of cigarettes purchased outside New York City doubled...
... further progress will require national action, particularly to increase cigarette taxes, reduce cigarette tax evasion, expand education and cessation services, and limit tobacco marketing.
Bring it on, toots.
This is a crock!
I KNEW that when states raised the cigarette taxes so high, we would go elsewhere for them, therefore, the coffers aren't being filled in the city's and states like before.
Smokers haven't quit!!!!! We just learned how to get cheaper smokes.
Fork all of the lawmakers idiots and their damn statistics!
...further progress will require national action, particularly to increase cigarette taxes, reduce cigarette tax evasion, expand education and cessation services, and limit tobacco marketing.
Reading stuff like that gives me the creeps!
Well, they WISH!
They sure are a vile bunch, aren't they?
Anti-smoking Nazis lie. Either those folks, who are supposed to have quit, moved or lied. FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
Vile, and not a little scary, too.
Just the tone of the whole thing was so smug and self-righteous!
I would be interested just how they come up with these bogus stats. Did a 140,000 ex-smokers write or flood to their offices to report that they were "good little soldiers" and are now free of the vile, disgusting habit of smoking cigarettes? What a crock.
Nor me. But I have a feeling they'd be happier if they could get a whole lot of other people to take up the habit.
I do not smoke but follow the belief that smoking is far less harmful than loading up on Prozac and Zoloft for anxiety etc. Lighting up to relax may be harmful but never was connected to shooting several co workers and fellow students. Let them smoke honey.
I smoked a whole chicken the other day, but I've never smoked honey. Sounds intriguing!
Hey, good for you, Cacique. I've never been a smoker, but I know it takes a great deal of discipline to be able to quit.
Post Office Sidesteps Fray on Illicit Sales of Cigarettes
May 29, 2005
Last month the National Association of Attorneys General asked the Postal Service to "adopt a firm policy prohibiting transportation of packages that the carrier knows or reasonably should know contains cigarettes sold illegally on the Internet."
"Tobacco is a legal, mailable product," Mary Anne Gibbons, the Postal Service's general counsel, wrote last month in a response to the association of attorneys general.
They [postal officials] note that Priority Mail, which officials say is most frequently used to ship cigarettes, cannot be inspected without a search warrant or the consent of either the sender or the recipient.
Congress has considered legislation that would ban the mailing of cigarettes.
SNIP
McHugh Introducing Legislation To
Stop Mail Delivery Of Tobacco Products
June 2, 2005
Representative John McHugh [R-NY] is introducing legislation in the House next week to prevent tobacco products from being delivered via the U.S. Postal Service.
The legislation will amend Title 39 of the U.S. Postal Code, making cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco products restricted, non-mailable matter.
The bill (H.R. 22) is expected to come before the House for a vote in early summer.
END OF ARTICLE
Michigan Smokes Out Cigarette Tax Dodgers
May 25, 2005
Two Web sites, eSmokes.com and DirtCheapCig.com, gave up the names of 11,579 Michigan residents who bought 581,808 cartons, costing the state $8.5 million in taxes. A third site has started identifying customers, and the state subpoenaed United Parcel Service to get information about shipments from some of the 10 companies that haven't responded.
Major credit card companies began declining transactions from Web-based tobacco vendors earlier this year, and some delivery services, including FedEx, have stopped accepting tobacco shipments to homes.
Several Web sites, including esmokes.com, now refuse orders to Michigan and 16 other states. Other sites, including two that Virginia prosecuted for cheating 46 states out of $2 million in taxes, are no longer operational.
Even some cigarette manufacturers oppose online sales. Philip Morris USA, whose brands include Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Parliament and Basic, has sued several sites and supported legislation to make sure vendors follow all laws. "We haven't found any Internet site out there that pays appropriate taxes and does proper age verification," said Philip Morris spokesman Dana Bolden.
SNIP
I have not purchased any cigarettes or paid State taxes since 1998. However, I smoke three packs a day and have done, so for over 30 years now.
Personally, the more the government tries to restrict the legal purchase of cigarettes, the more money I make on the black market.
I love this government!
Of course it's a crock!
God,what fools they are.
Sounds like something from The Communist Manifesto,doesn't it?
Good for you. I guess I have a new hero,Hunble!
I was watching a thing about moonshiners last night on the History Channel.
With the repeal of prohibition the government jacked up the taxes on liquor. Needless to say,the moonshiners made some BIG money.
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