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The annual American Lung Association report, State of Tobacco Control 2007 has been released!  This national report card analyzes state tobacco control laws in four key areas-smokefree air, tobacco control program funding, cigarette taxes and youth access to tobacco.  Arkansas scored grades of "A" in tobacco prevention and control spending, "A" in smokefree air, and "C" in youth access to tobacco. Unfortunately, Arkansas received a "D" for its cigarette excise tax.  Arkansas' D grade is based on its $0.59 per pack tax - which is 52 cents lower than the national average and almost two dollars lower than the highest cigarette tax in the nation.

This report is a wake-up call to the legislature and Governor Beebe about the true status of tobacco control in Arkansas. Raising cigarette taxes prevents kids from starting to smoke and has motivated thousands of Americans to quit smoking.  Studies show that when the price of cigarettes goes up, youth smoking goes down. In fact, for every 10 percent increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes, youth consumption will drop by about 7 percent.  In 2007, the Institute of Medicine and the President's Cancer Panel both issued independent reports affirming that efforts to increase tobacco taxes are a proven way to lower smoking rates. More than 7,700 people in Arkansas die each year from diseases caused by cigarette smoking.  It is time for our leaders in Little Rock to muster the political will and increase our state's cigarette tax. 

Please take a moment to sign our petition in support of increasing the cigarette tax.