WAMC: Anti-Smoking Advocates Hail New Tobacco Laws That Took Effect July 1st in New York

WAMC Northeast Public Radio interviewed Judy Rightmyer, director of Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities, a grant-funded program of St. Peter’s Health Partners, concerning new tobacco control measures. The measures, which prohibit discounts on the sale of all tobacco products, went into effect on July 1 across New York state.

From the article:

Judy Rightmyer, director of Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities, hails the new law as a significant victory. She points out that the average age that kids first start smoking in New York State is 13.

“The coupons of buy one, get one free have resulted in the products being very affordable. And what we know is that if we can keep tobacco prices high, youth smoking rates and even adult smoking rates will decrease. For every 10 percent increase in cigarette prices, you can see a decrease in youth smoking by about 7 percent. And decrease in adult smoking rates by about 2 percent.”