Study Links Cigarette Tax Cuts to Increased Initiation Rates Among Young Adults.
A Canadian study examined the differences in young adult (aged 20-24) cigarette initiation rates between the different provinces. The study found that the provinces that lowered cigarette taxes by $14-21 (Canadian dollars) per carton showed initiation rates of 10.5% among the group, as compared to the 8.5% among the provinces that hadn't lowered the tax. The provinces had lowered the taxes in the early '90s as a way to reduce cigarette smuggling.