Pentagon to Raise Tobacco Prices on Military Bases

The Defense Secretary wants to curb tobacco usage among its members.

April 29, 2016

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Defense will increase the price of tobacco on military basis to correspond with local market cost, Reuters reports. Defense Secretary Ash Carter issued the new guidelines earlier this month with the aim of reducing tobacco usage among members of the military.

The match in tobacco prices would be based on the total amount of similar products sold off base, which would include taxes not paid on base. The Pentagon has been discussing how to implement the guidelines.

Tobacco and the military have had a long history, with the military encouraging tobacco usage because of the since-disputed idea that smoking calmed people in dangerous and boring situations. Field rations included cigarettes until the mid-1970s.

While tobacco usage is forbidden during basic training, the military still designates smoking pits or ship decks for soldiers and sailors who smoke. Recently, the military has begun to step up programs to assist in smoking cessation, but the military funding legislation mandates the military sell tobacco products at its stores.

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