Posted on 04/21/2005 4:31:13 PM PDT by Scenic Sounds
SACRAMENTO – California's adult smoking rate has fallen to a historic low as young adults – the first generation to grow up with the state's aggressive anti-tobacco campaign – posted their biggest decline in nearly a decade, health officials reported yesterday.
Only 15.4 percent of California adults still smoke, according to a survey of 8,000 people conducted throughout 2004. That figure, down from 16.2 percent the year before, represents nearly 4 million smokers, but 70 percent of those want to quit, the survey found.
Public health advocates were encouraged by a nearly four-point drop – from 22.2 percent to 18.3 percent – in the smoking rate among 18-to 24-year-olds, a significant slice of the population that still has the highest level of tobacco use.
The tobacco industry and the state's anti-smoking campaign both have targeted young adults, whose smoking prevalence had fluctuated in the low 20 percent range since 1995.
"The most hopeful sign is it appears the 18-to 24-year-old rate has stabilized and is now starting to decline," said Colleen Stevens, a veteran administrator of the state's tobacco control program.
"These kids are growing up in a world where smoking is not appropriate, it's not fashionable," Stevens said. "They know the dangers and they look at people who smoke and say, 'What's wrong with you?' "
California has spent millions over the past 15 years on a provocative advertising assault on the dangers of tobacco use. The money has been generated by a 1988 ballot measure that added 25 cents to the tax on each pack of cigarettes.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of a landmark California law that banned smoking in enclosed workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
Since 1988, when voters passed the tobacco tax, California's adult smoking rate has fallen over 32 percent, from 22.8 percent to 15.4 percent.
The trend, said Dr. Richard Jackson, the state's public health officer, "is having a profound effect on the health of Californians" with rates of tobacco-related cancers and heart disease well below national levels.
California's adult smoking rate is second lowest only to Utah's, which recently dipped below 12 percent. Nationally, an estimated 22.5 percent of adults, or 46 million people, smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says cigarette smoking is the nation's leading preventable cause of death.
Stevens said there is still room for improvement in California, particularly among lower-income groups.
The tobacco industry remains a political power in the state Capitol. In recent years, it has helped block proposals to outlaw smoking until age 21, on state beaches and in cars carrying small children.
But industry leader Philip Morris USA has acknowledged the perils of tobacco use, encouraged smokers to quit and set up an informational resource to help those who want to give up cigarettes.
"We agree with the public health community that to reduce the health effects of smoking, the best thing to do is to quit," said Jennifer Golisch, a Philip Morris spokeswoman.
How are we supposed to make up for the loss of tax revenue?
Oh, wait, the perscription drug market! Sorry, lost myself.
Yes.
"Adult Smoking Rate Shows Record Drop"
I haven't contributed to it.
I'm smoking and enjoying every puff from my cig ;-)
Have a nice day
Hear, hear!
My cigarette is celebrating already ;-)
This is good news for people that quit, bad news for those that structure taxes to pay for govt services, and I don't believe the numbers. People are embarrassed to say they smoke, and buy smokes at reservations and on the internet so sales don't show to the state.
Watch out toilet paper users....you'll be targeted next for the lost cigarette tax revenue!!!
I enjoy the scene in "Shenandoa" where James Steward is sitting on his front porch after dinner, rolls up his own tobacco leaves, cuts it, lights it, smokes it. Ahhhh, culture.
Maybe we can recyle the corn cobs from the ethanol plant?!
And to think I have a hard time properly microwaving Totinos Pizza Rolls.
Hey, social engineering really works on Californians. As the Philosopher said, "Modern man is being prepared to live a life of slavery in the most exacting sense."
So, give me a puff of that cigarette. I need it...:)
Not really. How is the state going to make up for the billions of dollars smoker's pay into the state with their tax dollars? Someone out there is going to have to dig mighty deep into their pockets. Wonder what group it will be next? Think about it. 
Take a puff, dear ;-)
Smoking is heaven ;-)
Tobacco Taxes
California's excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.870
California's excise tax collection for the
fiscal year ending June 2002: $1,074,323,000
Sales tax on tobacco products: 7.25%
Federal excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.39
Total federal excise tax collections in fiscal year 2002: $7,512,700,000
Click here for the Cigarette Tax and Payment Table for all states.
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Number of six-packs of beer that must be sold in California to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 77.3 |
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Number of bottles of wine that must be sold in California to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 219.6 |
California Smokers' Contributions
to the State Economy - 2002
| Smokers Pay Excise Taxes2 | $ | 1,074,322,864 |
| Smokers Pay Sales Taxes2 | $ | 333,410,544 |
| Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments3 | $ | 913,332,154 |
| $ | 2,321,065,562 |
| California smokers' median income 20011 | $ | 35,620 |
| Annual state income tax liability for a couple | $ | 370 |
| Annual state income tax liability for a couple with two children | $ | 212 |
| Total average paid per California smoker in excise and sales taxes | $ | 332 |
| Cost per California smoker for settlement payments to California | $ | 216 |
| Total annual payment to California per smoker | $ | 548 |
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ewwwwwwwww
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