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Teens say they'll still light up
(Published Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:34:35 AM CST)
| A d v e r t i s e m e n t
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By Frank Schultz
Gazette staff
It's easy to spot the smokers hanging out near Janesville high schools at lunchtime.
In a 2005 Janesville School District survey, 12 percent of high school juniors and 20 percent of seniors said they smoked every day.
Would increasing the cigarette tax cut their numbers?
A study by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids projects a $1-per-pack tax increase would stop more than 84,000 Wisconsin youths from starting to smoke.
But most students smoking off school grounds near Craig High School on Wednesday said they'd probably keep lighting up. Some of their responses:
-- 15-year-old sophomore girl.
Started smoking: Sixth grade.
Want to quit? Yes.
Tax hike reaction: "That would suck. … I would probably still buy them, anyway, because it's too late. I'm addicted to it."
-- 18-year-old senior boy.
Started smoking: Sixth grade.
Want to quit? Yes, "But it doesn't work."
Tax hike? "If it goes up to $5 (a pack), I'm quitting," although he didn't know how he would do it.
-- 16-year-old sophomore girl.
Started smoking: Three years ago.
Want to quit? Yes, but it's hard to do.
Tax hike reaction: Would not quit. "I'd be mad, though. I need cigarettes. Cigarettes are, like, they calm me down."
-- 15-year-old junior boy.
Started: 18 months ago.
Quit? Is trying. Has cut back to two or three cigarettes a day.
Tax hike? "That wouldn't bother me because I get them free from my friends."
-- 15-year-old sophomore girl.
Started smoking: Sixth grade.
Tax hike? "I would not like that," but would probably still buy them.
-- 18-year-old senior boy.
Tax hike? "I'd start buying the cheaper brand of cigarettes. That way, I'd be paying the same price.
"Grand Prix, man. Two dollars a pack."
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