TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — To start the month of July, residents who purchase tobacco products will see a bigger charge at the counter.
Each pack of cigarettes will now cost $2 more after a tax increase passed by legislature.
This will also impact other tobacco products including vapes, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco.
Shannon Giles of Tobacco Free Vape Free Vigo said this movement will not only help to stop current tobacco users, but will benefit local youth as well.
“Particularly with youth, higher prices make it harder for them to justify smoking”, Giles said. “We’re in an economy where every dollar matters. If you currently smoke and you want to quit it will save you, on average, $4,000 a year if you are a pack a day smoker. We know that for every dollar that we spend on services to help people quit, it generates $10 in savings through health care costs, productivity costs, businesses will see benefits.”
This is the first cigarette tax hike approved by lawmakers in nearly 20 years.
It is expected to net the state an additional $400 million per year.
