New York has been a leader in public health over the years. When it comes to ending cigarette smoking, however, the job is far from finished.
Nearly 1.6 million New York adults still smoke cigarettes, and more than 28,000 New Yorkers die each year due to smoking. Cigarette use is tied to more than a quarter of cancer deaths statewide and costs more than $12 billion annually in direct healthcare spending.
With such a staggering toll, tobacco tax policy should be about more than revenue. The way we tax nicotine products can either encourage adults who smoke to move away from cigarettes or unintentionally keep them there. That’s why Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to raise taxes on nicotine pouches deserves closer scrutiny.
Not all nicotine products are the same. Cigarettes burn tobacco and create smoke, which causes most smoking-related illnesses, including COPD and lung cancer. Noncombustible products, including nicotine pouches, expose users to far fewer toxicants and are considered significantly lower risk than cigarettes. After a rigorous scientific review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized several nicotine pouches for sale, determining they are “appropriate for the protection of public health” and can benefit adults who switch completely away from cigarettes.
Today, cigarette use in New York is concentrated in working-class and economically disadvantaged communities, among people living with mental health challenges, and among veterans. Most people who smoke want to quit. While traditional cessation strategies, including tobacco quitlines, can improve success rates, fewer than 1 in 10 people who attempt to quit remain smoke-free long term. Many adults are therefore turning to lower-risk nicotine alternatives to transition from smoking.
