A federal tax went into effect Wednesday that will benefit children’s health but also may encourage healthier habits in adults.
Signed into law by President Obama in February, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 increases federal excise taxes on tobacco products.
The law also mandates new permit and enforcement requirements regarding tobacco products and processed tobacco, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The tax increase will fund children’s health insurance for families with incomes exceeding Medicaid qualifications and too low to purchase private coverage.
The federal excise tax went from 39 cents per pack of cigarettes to $1.01 Wednesday. Chewing tobacco, cigars and pipe tobacco also will have federal taxes increase.
However, people may have already noticed a price increase the past few months as most manufacturers have upped prices to offset costs for consumers faster.
While the tax will improve children’s health care, it may seem unfair to force one portion of the population to dig deep into their pockets during a time when there’s nothing left to dig for.
However, tobacco isn’t a necessity like food or water.
The American Cancer Society’s Web site states tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death in the world, and will most likely lead to 500 million people alive today dying prematurely.
If this tax pushes people in the direction of making a healthy choice by quitting, then so be it.
Some would argue our freedoms are being infringed upon.But people still have the right to smoke, and it may force some to rethink it because of the cost. It could even discourage some people from ever forming the habit.