Atlantic City Mulls Casino Smoking Ban

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Innocent Non-Smoker wrote:

Let me first start off by saying that I am an avid non-smoker, and I really appreciate (in fact, love) fresh, clean air that is free of second-hand smoke. The recent $1.25 cigarette tax hike implemented throughout the State of New York is an excellent step in the right direction from a social, health and financial perspective; and one that should be adopted nation-wide. The general argument put forth by a smoker goes something like this,“Cigarette smoking is my choice, and it affects only me, and therefore, I should not be punished for my decision to smoke”. If this statement were entirely correct, then I would not mind other people smoking. However, when a certain portion of society smokes regularly, it negatively affects us all (including the innocent non-smoker) in two ways:
Therefore, for a smoker to argue that he/she has a right to smoke simply because it does not negatively affect other people is simply naïve. Another issue not discussed in the recent news (based on what I have read so far) is just how the additional tax dollars will be spent. I believe that, in general, cigarette taxes should be used to fund three major programs. First and foremost, cigarette taxes should be used to compensate the innocent victims of second-hand smoke. Second, such taxes should be used to fund nicotine addiction programs targeted at the smoking population that is trying to quit. And third, such taxes should be used to fund a compliance program to ensure that non-taxed cigarette sales do not occur “underground”. It is reasonable to assume that the current (and future) increase in the sales tax of any given commodity will inevitably lead to the development of a so-called black market; i.e., one in which unregulated goods are smuggled from other countries and sold tax-free. This practice must be prevented as it will negate any of the favorable outcomes from this tax hike.