THE Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) has congratulated the Government on the newly announced increase in the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on cigarettes.

Effective May 1, the SCT charged per cigarette will rise from $17 to $20, a vital measure the JCTC says directly supports the health and welfare of all Jamaicans.

“The JCTC commends Finance Minister Fayval Williams for this bold step, which is expected to generate approximately $1.1 billion for the national budget while serving as a powerful tool to reduce tobacco consumption,” the entity said in a news release. “Increasing cigarette prices is globally recognised as the most effective measure to reduce tobacco use among both young people and adults.”

Dr Terry Baker, chair of the JCTC, said she is pleased to see the Government taking these necessary steps to protect the public from the harmful and addictive effects of tobacco.

“This increase in the SCT is a strong signal of Jamaica’s continued intention to be compliant with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which our nation ratified in 2005,” she added.

Tobacco use remains one of the world’s greatest public health threats, contributing significantly to the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Jamaica. In 2021 alone, tobacco smoking was attributable to an estimated 1,300 deaths nationally, accounting for over five per cent of all deaths. Furthermore, as of 2024, approximately 248,000 Jamaicans remain current smokers, with alarming rates of exposure among the youth.

The JCTC said it supports this fiscal measure for several key reasons, among them health protection, where higher prices discourage initiation among youth and encourage current smokers to quit, potentially saving thousands of lives from tobacco-related diseases.

“Revenue generated from these taxes can help offset the massive fiscal impacts of recent challenges, such as Hurricane Melissa, while reducing the long-term economic burden of treating NCDs,” it added.

While celebrating this progress, the JCTC is also encouraging the Government to continue its momentum by advancing the comprehensive Tobacco Control Act currently before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament.

“This legislation is essential to address modern threats, including banning of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, the regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes), and measures to reduce youth access to e-cigarettes as vaping among the youth is a cause for concern,” the JCTC said.

Meanwhile, Dr Aggrey Irons, board member of the JCTC, said the decision was a courageous one, and the JCTC is committed to supporting these efforts to foster a smoke-free Jamaica.

“The JCTC looks forward to continued partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to protect all Jamaicans from the harms of tobacco,” the entity said.

Headquartered at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, the JCTC is a group of non-governmental health organisations dedicated to reducing the prevalence of tobacco and nictoine use in Jamaica. The coalition works to de-normalise tobacco use and promote sustainable tobacco control policies to ensure the highest standard of health for all citizens.