Smoking Falls Off After U.S. Report

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 3

Smoking Falls Off After U.S. Report

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright} NEW YORK, February 11. One month after the Surgeon-General’s report linking cigarettes and cancer, state revenue figures indicate that Americans are smoking less. A survey today showed that in almost every state polled, income from cigarette taxes is running less than before.

South Dakota showed a 24 per cent drop. Kansas revenue from .cigarettes in January was the lowest in 17 months. Governor Edmund Brown (California) based his budget on the assumption the i average person would smoke • four packets less this year, i There was some indication, ; however, the cutback in | smoking would be temporary. , California tax officials said (they believed many persons would try to stop smoking—--1 and fail. Idaho officials found a '27,000 dollar drop in January j over previous Januaries, but i noted that cigarette smoking - seemed to be on the rise ' again. Although the drop amounted to 15 per cent after | the United States Public - Health Service report on I January 11, the decrease now ■is only 5 to 10 per cent. Revenue Down j Cigarette sales ' in New | York State fell off by nearly 10m packets • last month, cut-

ting State revenues by about half a- million . dollars. A spokesman for the State Tax Department said today, the decline probably was a reaction to the Government report. On the basis of tax collections on cigarettes, officials said 194.2 m packets of cigarettes were sold last month, , compared with 203.8 m in January, 1963.