Higher cigarette taxes won't stop young people learning to smoke; vapes are the real gateway drug.
FO Take · Score 25
Increasing cigarette tax is a futile gesture. Today's youth aren't starting with cigarettes; they're hooked on vapes, readily available and often marketed deceptively. This policy fails to address the true entry point for nicotine addiction, demonstrating a profound misunderstanding of contemporary youth culture. Education, not outdated taxation, is the only deterrent. We are failing our children by fighting yesterday's battles.
The strongest counter
Any measure to raise the cost of tobacco products helps deter youth. Cigarettes remain a significant public health threat, and tax increases have historically reduced smoking rates across all age groups.
