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Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol Economic Impact

In: Social Issues

Submitted By D0P3M4N
Words 1310
Pages 6
During economic hardship, many “sensitive” topics, such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol are always on the table for debate; since they influence and impact our personal lives, people’s beliefs and the economy. As the United States of America continues on its present path of accumulating a deficit, many political opinions and justification will be voiced to clarify the excessive funds allocated to aid various tobacco, drugs and alcohol programs/budgets. These programs includes, but not limited to: education and awareness; local support groups; rehabilitation centers to medical finance assistance for care and medication. The programs listed above can easily be justified by local, state and/or national government bodies, but how about monies that are being missed used and/or irrelevant in helping society, which I like to, refer them as “scam expenses”.
Tobacco products in the United States have influence two major problems in today’s economy. First, in recent years, numerous state governments have enacted higher tax rates on cigarettes. The governments overall explanation of higher tariff of tobacco products would hopefully lead to a decrease smoking rates. However, some disagree and different publications note the increase in taxes was solely for the purpose of increasing revenue.
Overall state tax revenue from tobacco sales have dwindled in recent years in states like New York, which presently has the highest state tax on cigarettes in the United States. At first glance, people would consider this as good thing, but in reality it’s not, due to contrabands are pocketing tax revenue from high taxed states by crossing state borders. For instance, contrabands purchase bundles of cigarettes for $5.00 per pack in the state of Kentucky (which has lower taxes than New York); Afterwards, these packs of cigarettes are being sold in New York for $9.00 per pack. Black

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