City Lights Out
The citys smoking rate [hit a record low] last year, dropping to 17.5 percent in 2006 from 18.9 percent in 2005, according to statistics released yesterday by the city Department of Health. This was the [third time in four years](http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--smokingrates0621jun21,0,6982762.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork) that the citys smoking rates have fallen, giving NYC one of the lowest rates in the nation. (Now, if we could only say the same about property taxes and broker charges ) In 2002, the city began an ambitious anti-smoking initiative that included a $1.50 per pack cigarette tax and a ban on smoking in most indoor public places. Health officials believe that [nearly 240,000 people](http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=7097) have nixed the habit since the initiative was launched, ending a decade-long period of stagnant rates.
Health commissioner Dr. Thoman Frieden said he credits the recent drop to higher tobacco taxes as well as a [new graphic ad campaign] that features cancer patient Ronaldo Martinez, a former smoker, who now speaks and breathes through a hole in his throat. There arent many programs that can prevent 80,000 premature deaths this quickly, he said. A recent survey found that 9 out of 10 city smokers had seen the ads, and that half said they wanted to quit after viewing. Thats pretty impressive. Friedan is now calling for another increase in the cigarette tax and argued that, because of inflation, the real price of cigarettes has actually declined by more than 60 cents since the last jump. The time is right for another increase, Frieden declared. Poor smokers. Now they'll be stuck with holes in their throats and in their wallets.
Photo courtesy of [SuperFantastic on Flickr]