Is the Cigarette Tax Enough To Prevent Smoking Essay

Smoking cigarettes have negative effects on not only the people who smoke, but also the people around them and the environment. Smoking cigarettes lead to many diseases and negative health effects, such as lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. Second hand smoke can lead to the same side effects. However, the dangers of second hand smoke tend to be generally greater than that of first hand smoke, which is what the smoker inhales. Because of all the negative effects of smoking, the sale of cigarettes has been taxed heavily. The ingredients in cigarettes, especially flavored cigarettes, make it difficult for smokers to quit. In the last few years, both federal and state taxes have increased for tobacco products in the hopes of trying†¦show more content†¦The majority of the remaining ingredients are chemicals that make smoking cigarettes more enjoyable. While some ingredients are used to increase the amount of nicotine that the smoker is able to absorb, other ingredients a re added just to make cigarettes taste better. The Food and Drug Administration has banned flavored cigarettes because it would entice youth to start smoking, and they are considering the banishment of menthol flavored cigarettes. Even though cigarette companies claim that there is no difference in the side effects of menthol cigarettes compared to non-menthol cigarettes, it has been argued that menthol flavored cigarettes are favored by certain groups, whose members are more likely to become regular smokers. The various ingredients in cigarettes cause smokers to become addicted. The nicotine is an addicting substance by nature, but the menthol flavor makes it more likely for smokers to continue smoking because they like the taste. This causes the demand for cigarettes to be relatively inelastic. This means that cigarettes are close to a necessity for some groups of people. The change in price of cigarettes will not cause a large change in the amount of cigarettes demanded by smokers. However, each cigarette smoked can cause serious damage. Cigarette smoke causes both the smoker and those in the same vicinity as the smoker to develop a greater chance for several diseases, as well as inflict a negative effect in the environmentShow MoreRelatedKentuckys Youth and Teen Smoking1020 Words   |  5 PagesAt a local Kentucky convenience store you can buy a pack of Marlboro cigarettes for about $4.50. For the same price as a cheap lunch a teenager can continue a nicotine addiction for another day. Smokers in Massachusetts, however, can expect to pay over ten dollars for a single pack of smokes. At ten dollars per pack an average smoker in Massachusetts can expect to pay over $3,000 a year. 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