A City of Quitters? In Strict New York, 11 Fewer Smokers The paragraphs below are the first few of a fairly lengthy article in Wednesday�s New York Times on the salutary effects from a smoking ban and a huge increase in New York City�s cigarette tax.
The key issue is the success of New York's crackdown on this public health matter. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- I'm happy to supply the full text of the article to any requesting it, but it can be found here (you may have to register, but it's free): May 12, 2004 By RICHARD P�REZ-PE�A In the wake of huge tobacco tax increases and a ban on smoking in bars, the number of adult smokers in New York City fell 11 percent from 2002 to 2003, one of the steepest short-term declines ever measured, according to surveys commissioned by the city. The surveys, to be released today, show that after holding steady for a decade, the number of regular smokers dropped more than 100,000 in a little more than a year, to 19.3 percent of adults from 21.6 percent. The decline occurred across all boroughs, ages and ethnic groups. The surveys also found a 13 percent decline in cigarette consumption, suggesting that smokers who did not quit were smoking less. Like similar local and national polls, the surveys counted as smokers all people who said that they had smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lives and that they now smoked every day or "some days." City health officials and opponents of smoking said they believed that the decline was caused primarily by sharply higher tobacco taxes that went into effect in 2002, including an increase to $1.50 from 8 cents a pack in New York City. The drop also coincided with a new city law banning smoking in bars, a new state law prohibiting it in restaurants and bars, and the Bloomberg administration's aggressive anti-smoking campaign, which has included advertising and the distribution of free nicotine patches to thousands of people. "From what we've seen, we believe New York City experienced the steepest decline anywhere in one year," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the city health commissioner. MORE at: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/12/nyregion/12SMOK.html?ex=1085440974&ei=1&en =ebe7937a67593563 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
