Southeast lags in tobacco controls
Southeastern legislators like their tobacco. That seems to be the finding of three studies which showed that the region lags behind the rest of the nation in measures such as tobacco taxes and public smoke-free policies, even though online surveys showed public opinion is receptive to more tobacco controls. In interviews with 26 former legislators, the researchers found recurring themes regarding factors impeding tobacco control, including tobacco’s legacy in the South, concerns about impact on reelection, concerns about economic impact, and opposition to “sin” taxes.
