LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The cost of your nicotine fix could increase soon, as a proposal before Arkansas legislators could increase the cost of a pack of cigarettes by $1.50.
"Arkansas has got the third highest rate of new incidents of lung cancer cases, the third highest rate of adults that smoke, and we have a youth smoking rate that is twice the national average,” said Michael Keck, Arkansas Government Relations Director of the American Cancer Society.
That, he says, is the motivation behind a new proposal by the American Cancer Society to increase the cost of cigarettes by $1.50 a pack.
"One of the best ways, it's been proven across the country, to prevent people from starting smoking, and to encourage people to quit smoking, is an increase in the price of tobacco."
He said another reason to increase the current tax is to help cover the cost current smokers are adding to Arkansas Medicare.
"It's about $300 million-a-year to the Medicaid budget,” he said. “More than a billion dollars in lost worker productivity, more than a billion dollars in healthcare costs, each and every year. We can't continue doing that."
And it's not just cigarettes. Keck is hopeful the legislature will consider an equivalent tax for other nicotine-based products, such as vapes, which is currently held only to the general sales tax.
Wednesday. June 20, THV11's Winnie Wright headed to a convenience store to hear what smokers thought about the proposal.
She learned that while a lot of people have opinions on the proposed tax increase, they're not very comfortable talking about it on-camera.
"We are already taking a chance with buying this. It's already giving us cancer. It says it on the label. Then you want to increase what we spend for it, so it's really like a lose-lose for us, and a win-win for the people who are increasing the tax rate on it,” said smoker Sam Birts. She says she likely won't quit.
Josh Ball is a non-smoker. He says he supports the proposal if the money goes to a good cause.
"Do you think, by chance, this will make people quit smoking or help prevent people from ever starting in the first place,” Winnie asked him.
"Maybe starting. I would think starting. But even at $1.50, if you don't want to quit, you're not going to quit,” Ball answered.
Keck said how the funds would be used is up to the Legislature. He hopes they will consider using the funds for tobacco education and to pay for the current burden tobacco puts on Medicare.
The Arkansas Legislative Council heard his testimony today and will debate whether or not to put it in the tax bill, to be voted on next legislative session in April.