It’s hard to remember what it was like before Iowa’s Smokefree Air Act went into effect. Restaurants and bars had two sections: one smoking and the other for secondhand smoking. Dining tables had ashtrays on them. Smoking was allowed at malls and bowling alleys.
In the 10 years since the law’s implementation on July 1, 2008, all that has changed for the better.
But despite this progress, Iowa could do more to reduce smoking rates, protect our kids and improve the health of our communities. We can raise the tax on tobacco products to discourage kids from taking up smoking and encourage those who are trying to quit. I support a tax increase of $1.50 per pack of cigarettes and a similar amount for other tobacco products. Such an increase is projected to save Iowa more than $750 million in long-term health care costs from adult and youth smoking declines. It is projected to reduce youth smoking by more than 16 percent and help more than 20,000 adults finally quit.
Join me in celebrating what we have accomplished in the 10 years since the Iowa Smokefree Air Act passed and encourage our lawmakers to reduce tobacco use further by raising the tobacco tax. It’s time to take our tobacco policy into the future.
Carolyn Sunde, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Volunteer-Forest City