Governor Kathy Hochul proposes raising the tax on one item that will affect more than a million New Yorkers. Gov. Hochul recently delivered her 2023 State of the State, detailing her plans and proposals for the state. This is her first State of the State as an elected governor.

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Many headlines have come from the State of the State, but this one will certainly affect almost two million New Yorkers and cost them more money. According to the New York State Department of Health, 12 percent of adults in New York State smoke. While the number has decreased from 14.1% in 2017 to 12.0% in 2020, that is still more than a million smokers in the state. The population of adults (people aged 18 or older) in New York State is 14,286,350. Twelve percent of that is 1.7 million.

Gov. Hochul Proposes Raising The Tax on Cigarettes In New York State

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Smoking and secondhand smoke kill over 22,000 people each year in New York State. According to the NYS Department of Health,

An estimated 30% of all cancer deaths are related to cigarette smoking, and about 90% of all lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking.

 


 

In an effort to cut back on the negative effects of smoking, Gov. Hochul plans to raise the tax on cigarettes from $4.35 to $5.35 per pack.


 

According to her 2023 State of the State book,

These actions are projected to reduce the number of young people smoking cigarettes by nine percent, prevent 2,000 youths from becoming adult smokers,70 and prevent premature deaths caused by smoking.

New York State currently has the highest cost for a pack of cigarettes with a price tag of $10.53, on average. Missouri has the cheapest cigarettes at $5.21 per pack, according to Wise Voter.

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