Lower Cigarette Sales are a Good Thing
Statement from Donald Distasio, Chief Executive Officer, American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey on new study showing cigarette sales have dropped since New York raised excise taxes.

Donald Distasio

"What are New York's cigarette tax hikes accomplishing? Fewer smokers. Fewer smoking related illnesses. Fewer cancer deaths.

We agree that the state must crack down on cigarette bootleggers peddling untaxed tobacco products under the guise of sovereignty. Hopefully the action New York took this week against a truckload of illegal, tax-free smokes, packed among children's candy, is the first step toward finally addressing this public health menace.

The American Cancer Society acts on evidence and all the data points to two conclusions: tobacco addiction drastically increases your risk of suffering and dying of cancer; and the more expensive cigarettes get, the fewer people will smoke. Those are the only points that truly matter."

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.