Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

BREAKING NEWS

John,

We wanted to share some terrific news about our progress in the fight against tobacco.

A new report [[link removed]] by the Federal Trade Commission shows that cigarette sales in the United States have fallen by an incredible 70% in the last 40 years. In fact, the annual number of cigarettes sold by major U.S. tobacco companies fell below 200 billion for the first time ever in 2021; it was 190.2 billion, compared to a high of 636.5 billion in 1981.

This huge, continuing drop in cigarette sales is one of our nation’s greatest public health success stories and reflects the enormous declines in smoking rates among both youth and adults in recent decades. It will pay off in improved health and countless lives saved for generations to come.

*We know what works*

This progress also underscores the proven effectiveness of strategies that have been implemented to reduce tobacco use, including:
• increased tobacco taxes and prices,
• comprehensive smoke-free laws,
• well-funded prevention and cessation programs,
• hard-hitting mass media campaigns, and
• state and local laws ending the sale of flavored tobacco products.

It's noteworthy that the largest drops in cigarette sales occurred in 1999, after cigarette prices were raised significantly as a result of the state tobacco settlements, and in 2009, when the largest-ever federal cigarette tax increase and numerous state cigarette tax increases were implemented. The evidence couldn’t be clearer that significantly increasing the price of cigarettes is one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking.

For more than 25 years, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has fought to put these solutions in place across the U.S. – and around the world as well. With the support of partners and advocates like you, we’ll keep fighting to do so.

Help us redouble efforts to implement the proven solutions that have driven this remarkable progress.
DONATE TODAY: [link removed]

*It's time to eliminate menthol cigarettes*

It is especially critical that the FDA swiftly finalize and implement its proposed rules to prohibit menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars and that states and cities continue to crack down on flavored products [[link removed]] .

The FTC report shows the menthol share of the cigarette market has grown steadily and now constitutes 37% of the market, more than double the 16% in 1963. This is no accident. It is the direct result of the tobacco industry’s aggressive and targeted marketing of menthol cigarettes [[link removed]] , especially to Black Americans. The FDA has found that menthol cigarettes are more addictive, easier for kids to start and harder for smokers to quit. Banning menthol cigarettes is the critical next step to continue driving down smoking rates and reduce tobacco-related health disparities in the United States, and the FDA must act without delay.

*It won't be easy*

The FTC report is also a reminder that the tobacco companies continue to spend huge sums to promote their deadly and addictive products in a desperate effort to protect sales and profits. In 2021, the top tobacco companies spent $8.6 billion – about $1 million every hour – to market cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products , the bulk of it on price discounts that make tobacco products more affordable and appealing to kids.

Despite our progress, tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death [[link removed]] in the United States, killing over 480,000 people and costing over $241 billion in health care expenditures each year.

*But we can win*

Our enormous progress leaves no doubt that we can win the fight against tobacco, but only if policymakers at every level implement the proven strategies that have achieved so much already.
With your help, we'll make sure that happens.

Sincerely,

Matt Myers
President

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Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids [[link removed]]
1400 I St NW, Ste 1200
Washington, District of Columbia xxxxxx
202-296-5469 | [email protected]

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