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37th Great American Smoke Out

By WEEK Reporter
November 15, 2012 Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 11:19 AM CDT

PEORIA, Ill -- Thursday marks the 37th annual Great American Smoke Out, a day when smokers are asked to put out their cigarettes for good.

 

A spokesperson for the local American Cancer Society says with more states enacting anti-smoking laws and increases in cigarette taxes fewer people are lighting up compared to a decade ago.  

 

"We know that if we can increase taxes at a dollar a pack on an incremental basis that's going to not only cause people to quit smoking but it's also gonna have a direct impact on our youth smoking,” said Trent Newman. ”So, our youth will not start smoking because they can't afford to do it."

 

Twenty-seven states currently have comprehensive smoke free laws.

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