Study: Banning Smoking Increases Drunken Driving Monday, April 07, 2008
MADISON — Enacting city smoking bans appears to increase drunken driving, according to a new national study of arrests by Wisconsin researchers.
Fatal accidents involving alcohol increased after communities banned public smoking, the study to be released by the Journal of Public Economics found. The authors attributed the increase to people driving farther to drink, either to a place with an outdoor smoking area or a city without a ban.
“The increased miles driven by drivers who wish to smoke and drink offsets any reduction in driving from smokers choosing to stay home after a ban, resulting in increased alcohol-related accidents,” the study says.
The researchers, Scott Adams, of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Chad Cotti, now at the University of South Carolina, said they were surprised by the results.
“We thought we would see a reduction,” Adams said. “Our first thought was, ‘Throw it away, it must be wrong.’”
But it wasn’t, he said.
The study looks at highway fatalities from 2001 to 2005 involving at least one driver with blood alcohol content over 0.08. It compares those in cities and counties with bans to crashes in surrounding areas without bans. It found an increase in accidents after smoking bans were enacted, both in ban areas and near boundary lines.
Smoke Free Wisconsin Executive Director Maureen Busalacchi objected to linking the increase in accidents to smoking bans, saying people may travel to drink for many reasons.
“How in the world you would figure out where people are traveling unless you are interviewing them?” she asked.
The results were similar nationwide, except in New England, which has many smoking bans, Adams said. A well-enforced national smoking ban would get rid of the drunken driving increases because people would have no reason to travel to drink, he said.
The study did not include Wisconsin because Appleton and its ban covered too small an area and data collection started before Madison banned smoking in 2005, Adams said.
Fitchburg’s smoking ban started April 1, and Eau Claire’s will start July 1. Marshfield residents approved a ban Tuesday that will become law within 30 days.
Do you know why I smoke? Let me tell you, every time I drive past a gas station and see the price of gasoline going up, I feel both my left and right temples start to pound. I look into the rear-view mirror and see that my face is beat red. High blood pressure— yes! Every time I open my National Grid bill, the same thing happens, so I light a cigarette and instantly calm down, possibly saving my life from a major stroke. The April 3 Gazette reported that New York would now be the highest state as far as cigarette taxes are concerned — really, no kidding? Why am I not surprised? I’m going to fight back by not voting in any more elections, either locally or nationwide, and I will take this promise to the grave with me! JOHN AINI JR. Schenectady
Pay ‘em If You Smoke ‘em April 7, 2008 at 6:11 pm by Jay Jochnowitz, State Editor
If you were thinking about buying up all those soon-to-be relatively cheap smokes before New York’s excise tax goes up $1.25, buy soon: the state plans to retroactively tax the stock that retailers and wholesalers have on hand.
Budget Division spokesman Jeff Gordon said the “floor stocks tax,” as it’s called, has been done in the past and is used to insure that consumers are charged a consistent tax. The new tax would take effect June 3. Retailers and wholesalers wouldn’t have to pay the higher tax on all their inventory at once, Gordon noted: 25 percent would come due in August, with the rest due by the end of the year.
The New York Association of Convenience Stores sees it differently, with its president, James Calvin, saying the state plans to “strong-arm” tobacco sellers to pay the higher tax on cigarettes they’ve already bought. In a news release, the group said it would be a “cash flow nightmare” for businesses, and that the state tax department ”would send inspectors to retail stores to look over their shoulders Gestapo-style and make sure they accurately report their inventory for floor stocks tax purposes.”
Calvin also ripped the state for failing to enforce the collection of sales taxes on cigarettes sold in Native American shops to non-Indians, “but they are gung-ho to get out there and harass the non-Indian retailers that have been dutifully collecting and remitting these taxes for years. It should be renamed the Department of Double Standards.”
That's funny----they are worried about the black market----ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.....what a joke.....NYS IS a black market according to the actions or lack thereof of our legislators,tax collectors,elected officials, unions etc etc.....the list is endless----
subprime or whitewater anyone??????
yup, they walk among us and some are actually given power.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
SACRAMENTO - Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.
The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,500 percent.
Beall said the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.
People are going to start bringing in cigarettes to NYS from the southern states again where the prices are cheaper and there is no tax on them. The old black market smuggling will be used again.
If you were thinking about buying up all those soon-to-be relatively cheap smokes before New York’s excise tax goes up $1.25, buy soon: the state plans to retroactively tax the stock that retailers and wholesalers have on hand.
Budget Division spokesman Jeff Gordon said the “floor stocks tax,” as it’s called, has been done in the past and is used to insure that consumers are charged a consistent tax. The new tax would take effect June 3. Retailers and wholesalers wouldn’t have to pay the higher tax on all their inventory at once, Gordon noted: 25 percent would come due in August, with the rest due by the end of the year.
What will state do for funds as smokers quit? First published: Sunday, April 20, 2008
In response to Dan Renaud's letter "Cigarette tax boost sends a bad message" of April 13: I couldn't agree more with what he had to say. I am a nonsmoker, but I can't help sympathizing with those addicted to cigarettes. For now because of their addiction, they will pay whatever it takes (high taxes or not).
Eventually, though, the number of smokers will decline as the price of cigarettes continues to increase. What happens then? Where will the state get that tax money? We can't be so gullible as to believe the state will function without it. Be afraid, nonsmokers, be very afraid. KAREN HOTCHKISS North Greenbush
Impending tobacco tax hike offers good opportunity to quit
The cost of cigarettes is going up by $1.25 a pack on June 3. Smokers might want to take the time to smell the lovely June roses as they breathe more easily when they quit smoking. Good things happen when someone quits — easier breathing, more energy, lower risk of heart attacks, a better sense of smell and taste, and walking without getting out of breath. Quitting will bring on cleaner lungs and extra cash. There are all sorts of special savings for these quitters — starting with their lives! High cigarette prices make lots of smokers quit. Smokers should take advantage of this money-saving idea. Help is available with the New York State Smokers’ Quitline. It offers free coaching and quit plans, free nicotine patches, gum and lozenges, free tips and information, and free online help. The toll-free Quitline number is 1-866-NYQUITS (1-866-697-8487). More information is available on the Quitline Web site at http://www.nysmokefree.com. Smokers: Quit now and get out with those June roses. KATHY BUTTARO Colonie
There goes all the money from the cigarette tax that the state was counting on to fund their projects, people who now smoke will either quit or will buy their cigarettes from the Indian Reservations or black market and not pay any tax on them.
People are going to start bringing in cigarettes to NYS from the southern states again where the prices are cheaper and there is no tax on them. The old black market smuggling will be used again.
That has already begun. People who are going south to visit family/friends or just for a vacation are taking hundreds of dollars from people in NYS and buying cartons of cigs for them. I believe that good old NYS just made the south a bit more economically richer. I know people who live down south who are more than willing to buy cigs and send them up here. This is just the beginning folks. I heard and it may be rumor only, but there are people who will make the trip down south for cigs if they get enough orders. And all everyone has to do is all chip in to pay for their gas. And believe it or not, it is still cheaper than buying them in NYS. And ya don't even have to go south. Some are getting them from Pa.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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