Idaho’s revenue from alcohol, tobacco taxes ranks low

The American Lung Association recently rated each of the 50 states on their tobacco control policies (audelfin/morguefile)

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A recent report by the Pew Research Center found that Idaho’s revenue from its taxes on alcohol, tobacco and gambling is among the lowest in the nation.

The Post Register reported last week that Idaho’s revenue from sin taxes, also known as excise taxes, ranks as 44th.

Sin taxes account for 2 percent of the state’s revenue.

Alcohol sales make up 0.2 percent, while tobacco sales and revenue account for 0.9 percent.

Idaho charges a tax of 57 cents per cigarette pack. That tax has not been raised since 2003.

Last year, Idaho’s cigarette tax brought in $36 million in revenue.

West Virginia, which is similarly-sized to Idaho, has a cigarette tax of $1.20. Its cigarette tax brings in $59 million more per year than Idaho.

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