s, 



66< 



*moke-fllled" treasuries 



Ever since a federal excise was established on manu- 

 factured tobacco in 1862, the various tobacco products 

 have been heavily taxed. Cigarettes were included in 

 the tax in 1864. The total yield to the United States 

 Treasury through June 1972 has been over $62 billion. 



The current federal rate on each package of 20 ciga- 

 rettes is eight cents. It was "temporarily" raised from 

 seven cents in 1952. 



With the purchase of tobacco as a consumer item, 

 Georgians have also contributed vast sums of money in 

 the form of revenues to the state treasury. Since 1923 

 when the first tax on tobacco products was levied by 

 the state, to June 1972, the latest fiscal year of record, 

 users have added $644,977,429 to the state's total reve- 

 nues—almost $66 million in 1972 alone. 



The current state excise on cigarettes in Georgia is 

 12 cents per pack. In addition, cigarette consumers pay 

 a three percent sales tax which amounts to about two 

 cents extra per pack. 



In all, the tobacco industry is of extreme importance 

 to Georgia. Although there is relatively no tobacco 

 manufacturing within the state, the growth of the plant 

 requires a large labor force for plant cultivation and in 

 the related industries that form the composite tobacco 

 economy of the state. Types 14 and 62 have helped 

 support manufacturers in border states where the to- 

 bacco is blended into the finest grade cigarettes and 

 cigars in the world. 



It took a very long time for the "Peach State" to 

 attain that position. The history of that achievement 

 is a dramatic one. 



12 



