State and federal revenues from tobacco consumed by minors.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the value of cigarettes consumed in 1997 by youths younger than 18 years. METHODS: Price, population, and consumption data were used to compute conservative and comprehensive estimates, which were then averaged. RESULTS: An estimated 3.76 million daily smokers aged 12 through 17 years consume an estimated 924 million packs of cigarettes per year, generating $222 million in federal tax revenues, $293 million in state tax revenues, and $480 million in tobacco company profits, and producing a retail value of $1.86 billion. CONCLUSIONS: The revenues from cigarettes smoked by youths could be used to enforce laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors.