Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has proposed a $1.50 tax increase on a pack of cigarettes.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
News Center 7′s Nick Foley looks at tobacco use in Ohio and consults the American Lung Association about DeWine’s plan.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Person rescued from Troy house fire dies
- State agencies raid business park in Washington Twp.; accounting agency apparent focus
- West Dayton revitalization project has ribbon cutting for grocery store, plans for more
Just under one in five adults in Ohio smoke, according to the most recent data from the State Department of Health, in 2022.
The tax increase proposal would bring the total tax to $3.10 per pack.
Kezia Ofosu-Atta is the advocacy director for Ohio for the American Lung Association. She says that a tax increase could have a direct impact on youth smoking in the state. Currently, more than one in five high schoolers use cigarettes in some way. Ofosu-Atta says every time the price goes up, fewer kids try it.
“We know that with every 10 percent tax increase on cigarettes, it leads to a reduction in consumption by four percent among adults and seven percent among youths,” Ofosu-Atta said. “Making it a much more effective way to reduce tobacco use, especially among the youths.”
While a tax increase could be a strong deterrent against cigarettes, Ofosu-Atta says the key would be to put a similar tax hike on products across the board, including vapes and flavored tobacco. DeWine has said in the past that he would like products like these banned.
“It’s great to create a tax parity so that when customers are going to purchase these products, they can think more about it and question as to whether or not they really do want to use these products that are addictive and are continuing to take the lives of people across the state of Ohio,” Ofosu-Atta said.
DeWine added that he would like to create a $1,000 annual refundable tax credit for Ohio residents with children under the age of seven that would be paid for by this proposed tax increase.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2025 Cox Media Group
