Regional Analysis cont'd...
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Region 4: Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida |
Region 4: Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida
The southern region saw significant tobacco control activity in 2004. Tobacco tax increases and smokefree air policies were debated in legislatures throughout the region. Alabama more than doubled its cigarette excise tax, raising it to $0.425 per pack. Cigarette tax increases were introduced in Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi, but were ultimately defeated. The cigarette tax defeats left this region with the lowest average cigarette tax rate in the country at $0.21 per pack.
In a historic victory, the Supreme Court of Kentucky ruled to uphold Lexington's smokefree air ordinance prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars. Lexington’s victory is a harbinger for things to come in this region as more and more communities throughout the South push for strong smokefree public places and workplaces. In fact, the Georgia legislature came very close to passing a strong statewide smokefree air bill. An additional boost to smokefree air efforts was the news from Florida where a study found that Florida's comprehensive smokefree air law that went into effect July 1, 2003 had no negative impact on hotel, restaurant and tourism revenues.
Mississippi, once again, receives the distinction of being one of the few states in the nation, and the only one in this region, to continue to fully fund its tobacco prevention program above the minimum level recommended by the CDC.
Region 4 average cigarette tax: $0.21.
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Alabama raised its cigarette tax from $0.165 cents to $0.425 per pack.
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The Kentucky Supreme Court upheld Lexington’s smokefree air ordinance.
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Mississippi continued to fully fund its tobacco prevention program at the level recommended by the CDC.
Region 5: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota
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Region 5: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota |
The Great Lakes region saw few statewide tobacco control policies enacted in 2004. The exceptions were Michigan and Ohio. Michigan greatly increased its cigarette tax to $2.00 per pack, the highest in the region and the third highest in the nation. Ohio bucked the national trend and significantly increased its spending on tobacco prevention and control programs.
Tobacco control advocates were most successful at the local level. Cook County, Illinois increased its tax to $1.00 per pack, making the combined tax in Chicago the fifth highest tax in the country. In addition, the cities of Wilmette, IL, Columbus, OH, Minneapolis and Bloomington, MN (home of the Mall of America) all passed smokefree air ordinances prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars.
Despite evidence that Indiana's model tobacco prevention program reduced high school smoking by 26 percent in the state, the program's funding was not restored. 3 Funding was also not restored to Minnesota’s model tobacco prevention program.
Region 5 average cigarette tax: $0.89.
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Michigan raised its cigarette tax from $1.25 to $2.00 per pack. The tax on other tobacco products also increased from 20 percent to 32 percent of the wholesale sales price.
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The Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation increased its tobacco prevention and control funding by more than $15 million, bringing its spending to more than $53 million.
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Cook County, IL increased its cigarette tax to $1.00 per pack and Wilmette, IL passed a smokefree ordinance prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars.
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In Ohio the city of Columbus and its suburbs of Powell, Worthington, Bexley, Grandview Heights, and Upper Arlington passed a smokefree ordinance prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars.
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Minneapolis and Bloomington, MN passed smokefree ordinances prohibiting smoking in all workplaces including restaurants and bars.
Region 6: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico
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Region 6: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico |
The South Central region saw tobacco control gains at the state and local level. In Oklahoma, voters agreed to significantly increase the cigarette excise tax to $1.03 per pack, the highest in the region. For the third year in a row, Arkansas led the region in tobacco prevention funding by funding at the minimum level recommended by the CDC.
Progress was made at the local level with major cities achieving strong smokefree policies in Texas and New Mexico. In El Paso, TX, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that its comprehensive smokefree air law, passed in 2002, had no impact on local bar and restaurant activity. This study added to the mounting evidence that there is no long-term negative impact on restaurant sales or employment from these laws. 4
Region 6 average cigarette tax: $0.66.
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Oklahoma banned self-service displays of tobacco products.
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Oklahoma voters agreed to dramatically increase the cigarette excise tax to $1.03 per pack, the highest in the region.
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Arkansas continued to fund its tobacco prevention program at the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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New Mexico requires health insurance plans with maternity benefits to offer minimum coverage for tobacco cessation treatment, including diagnostic services, pharmacotherapy, and cessation counseling.
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New Mexico also now requires clerk-assisted tobacco sales and prohibits self-service displays of tobacco products.
Regional Analysis continued... |
