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Profits and Tax Revenues
- Approximately $3.35 billion of the tobacco industry’s annual profits comes from sales to people who became addicted to nicotine as children.
- The tobacco industry’s products claim over 7 million victims around the world each year.
- Over 480,000 Americans die annually from the effects of tobacco (CDC).
- In 2020, U.S. tobacco tax revenues amounted to $12.35 billion with a forecasted decrease to $11.04 billion by 2026 (CDC).
- In the UK, £11bn in tobacco taxes is gained yearly while the NHS spends about £2.5bn on smoking illnesses annually.
- Since the 1960s, tobacco companies’ total returns have exceeded 60,000%.
Costs to Taxpayers
- Most health care costs from smoking come directly from smoker taxes and cigarette taxes.
- Smoking causes fatal diseases, shortening smokers’ lives.
- A majority of costs are covered by these taxes.
- Smoking’s total cost to Australian society in 2015-16 was $136.9 billion while excise tax collected was only $9.8 billion.
Environmental Impact
- Cigarette butts are the world’s most common litter. Like thirdhand smoke, they leave a toxic legacy in the environment for years after being discarded.
- Managing this waste is expensive and paid by taxpayers and communities.
- Smoking causes pollution, toxins, litter, and health problems––the same issues as overall environmental problems. All negatively impact health and environment, costing taxpayer money.
