I think that your editorial of Sept. 30 missed a significant point regarding the cigarette tax. People don’t smoke because they enjoy it, they smoke because they are chemically addicted to nicotine.

To stop smoking, we have to get to people before they become addicted. The price of cigarettes has been shown to be an important factor in preventing children from smoking. Thirteen-year-olds are not going to be going to New Hampshire to buy cigarettes or getting them over the Internet.

If the extra tax can stop some children from picking up the habit, I am in favor of it.

Paul Flaherty

Standish