Incapsula incident ID: 564000710168781727-384732183886303695
That doesn't take into account the 62-cent hike in the federal government's cigarette tax passed by Congress last week.What is seen as a boon to public health among proponents is a job-killer among opponents.The proposal will eliminate from 1,300 to 2,400 retail and wholesale jobs, said Frank Lester, spokesman for the tobacco firm Reynolds American.Furthermore, the tax will encourage smuggling from nearby states where taxes are lower, especially in border areas such as the First Coast, he said.But, in a signal of the support growing behind the tax initiative, not every cigarette maker has lined up on the same side."We understand the discussions of an across-the-board tobacco tax as long as it is levied on all companies equally," said Sarah Bascom, spokeswoman for Florida-based Dosal Tobacco Corp.Dosal has been able to undersell its competition in Florida since the late-1990s because it was dismissed from the state's landmark $11.3 billion tobacco settlement over deceptive marketing practices
A useful analogy that has been used is that arguing over the difference between roll-ups and straights is like arguing whether its safer to jump out of the 20th or 15th floor of a building either way youre going to hit the ground and die. Professor Edwards said that tailored mass media campaigns, such as Smoke Free South Wests Wise up on roll-ups initiative, could correct misconceptions that roll-your-own cigarettes are less hazardous to health or more natural. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments
From the first draw to the last draw, you can taste the flavor
