The New York Times reports on the sharp decline in smoking in New York City. According to a study that interviewed 10,000 city residents, only 17.5% of the adult population now smokes, compared to 21.6% in 2002.
What accounts for this huge drop? The article offers three potential causes: anti-tobacco TV ads, a smoking ban in restaurants, and a hefty tax increase on cigarettes.
My money is on the tax increases. According to the article, the average price of a pack of cigarettes in New York is now $6.85. Much of the recent research on the subject shows that tax increases indeed have a strong effect on cigarette consumption, especially among young smokers. While the Times article doesnt deal with underage smoking, it does show a massive drop among 18-to-24-year-olds: from 23.8% in 2002 to 15.5% in 2006.
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