1. Maine’s Tobacco Tax is Falling Behind
Maine's cigarette tax is the second lowest in New England
A high cigarette tax, that is raised periodically, raises revenue, induces adults to
quit smoking and helps keep Maine kids from starting to smoke.
Current excise tax rates on
a pack of cigarettes
in New England
$2.00
$2.62
$1.68
Maine’s Benefits of Raising the
Cigarette Tax
Increasing the tax on cigarettes by $1.50
$2.51 would lower the youth smoking rate by
15.7% and keep 11,800 kids from becoming
smokers.
$3.40
Raising the Cigarette tax by $1.50 would
generate $47.4 million in additional excise
$3.50 tax revenue, save Maine businesses $16
million in lost productivity costs, afford
Maine $436.9 million in long-term health
savings.
Raising the cigarette tax would make Maine
healthier and more prosperous.
Prepared by the Maine Public Health Association