On Wednesday, health advocates revealed that, based on current estimates, adding a $1 per pack tax to cigarettes could help the Government raise over $9 Billion every year, and a poll accompanying the revelations has reflected that the residents would gladly support such a tax.

The survey was undertaken by International Communications Research, and discovered that 60% of the voters would lend their support to the tax, which could help currently troubled and struggling states. Also, people said that they would prefer this tax over other tax hikes or budget cuts.

"An increase in tobacco tax rates is not only sound public health policy but a smart and predictable way to help boost the economy and generate long-term health savings for states facing deepening budget deficits. We have irrefutable evidence that raising the tobacco tax lowers smoking rates among adults and deters millions of children from picking up their first cigarette", said John Seffrin, Chief Executive of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

The latest report in support of the $1 tax shows that such a tax would reduce consumption by about 4%, as it could force some 1.2 million adult smokers to quit.