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Poll reveals broad support among Oregon public for tobacco tax

By: CHP | Posted on: June 15th, 2009 | Share:
Categories: Air and Water Quality • Disparities • Economic Issues • Policies and Laws • Polls • Public Health • Did You Know?

All across the state, Oregonians show broad support for a 60-cent tax on a pack of cigarettes. This is according to a poll conducted by Davis Hibbitts Midghall Inc., commissioned by the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Oregon (TOFCO), and released to the public here on the Community Health Priorities website.

The study demonstrated that 67% of Oregonians currently support a 60-cent tax on cigarettes.

Furthermore, a large majority of Oregonians (77%) believe that lowering healthcare costs is the most powerful reason to increase cigarette taxes.

According to the poll, 84% of Oregonians believed that “Preventing tobacco can help lower the cost of healthcare for everyone” was a “good or very good reason” to prevent smoking and tobacco use in Oregon.

In addition, the public was generally not convinced by the arguments, put forward by the tobacco companies, that tobacco taxes are unfair to lower-income individuals, who are disporportionally more likely to smoke. Rather, their greatest concern seemed to be that tobacco tax money would not be used to help these folks quit, and would be used instead on general fund projects.

The Tobacco-Free Coalition of Oregon (TOFCO) is a not for profit organization that includes businesses, organizations and individuals who advocate for programs and policies that will decrease the toll of tobacco-use in Oregon. TOFCO was founded in 1995, combining efforts of non-profit groups, businesses, community groups, county health departments and concerned Oregonians.

More information on the study can be found here