New York Governor Hochul proposes tobacco policy changes.

Jan.13.2023
New York Governor Hochul proposes tobacco policy changes.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul plans to ban flavored tobacco products and raise cigarette taxes to reduce smoking rates.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address and immediately turned her attention to heated tobacco and other flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. The nation has already banned the sale of flavored electronic cigarette products.


The new governor of New York has outlined some tobacco policy changes she hopes to enact, including banning the sale of all flavored tobacco products and increasing the tax on every pack of combustible cigarettes from $4.35 to $5.35.


One of the world's most prominent anti-tobacco organizations, the Smoke-Free Kids Movement supported by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, praised the governor's plan. Any modification to the New York tobacco laws would first need to be approved by the state legislature.


According to a brochure from the governor's office, these actions are expected to decrease the number of young people who smoke by 9%, prevent 22,000 young people from becoming smokers, and prevent premature deaths caused by smoking.


California and Massachusetts are states that ban the sale of flavored tobacco products.


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