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Health groups urge provincial tax hike for cigarettes

Health groups are calling for a hike in provincial tax on Cigarettes to decrease smoking among teens and young adults after Health Canada this week revealed smoking rates in Alberta are above the national average. High wages, modest taxes and price discounting by tobacco companies are making it too easy for Alberta youths to feed their smoking habits, say activists. "Alberta's heated economy is contributing to elevated youth smoking rates," said Les Hagen, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health. "We are calling for a tax increase of at least two dollars per pack of Cigarettes to significantly reduce youth tobacco affordability in Alberta." New provincial data obtained by the Campaign for a smoke-Free Alberta showed local smokers between the ages of 15 and 24 only have to work 44 minutes to buy a package of premium Cigarettes -- significantly less time than their eastern counterparts who need only work 70. And new Health Canada statistics also show the smoking rate in Albertans between the ages of 15 and 19 is 20% compared with the national average of only 15% in the same age group. "Alberta is due for another major tobacco tax increase to reduce affordability and smoking rates," said Donna Hastings, vice-president of health and research for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta. "We cannot allow our heated economy to impair our quality of life."