Gov. DeWine’s Proposal to Increase Ohio’s Tobacco Tax Will Protect Kids and Save Lives

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids strongly supports Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposal, included in his Executive Budget today, to increase Ohio’s tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products. We applaud Governor DeWine for his continued leadership in standing up to the tobacco industry and working to protect kids and public health across Ohio. We urge the Legislature to support Gov. DeWine’s proposal and seize this opportunity to protect kids, improve health and save lives for generations to come. 

Research shows that increasing the price of cigarettes and other tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among kids. A tobacco tax increase will prevent kids from using tobacco products, encourage smokers to quit, save lives and save money by reducing tobacco-related healthcare costs for Ohioans and employers. Under Gov. DeWine’s proposal, the tax revenue generated by the increase will fund the proposed child tax credit to offset childcare costs and allow more Ohioans to return to the workforce.  

A $1.50 per pack cigarette tax increase, as proposed by Gov. DeWine, will improve health in Ohio and benefit employers and the workforce, including: 

• Preventing 11,800 Ohio kids from becoming smokers. 
• Helping 43,900 current adult smokers to quit. 
• Saving 14,200 Ohioans from premature, smoking-caused deaths. 
• Saving $714.8 million in future healthcare costs for constituents and businesses. 

In addition, these actions will also help to reduce smoking among Medicaid recipients, saving lives and money. State data show the smoking rate is nearly 40% for Ohio Medicaid enrollees – more than double the smoking rate for all adults in Ohio (18.0%).

We thank Governor DeWine for his commitment to Ohioans’ health and protecting our kids. We look forward to working with the Ohio Legislature and its leaders to save lives.