COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Lt. Gov. candidate Robert Barber (D) said on Tuesday that he is opposed to tax increases. But when it comes to cigarette excise taxes, Barber’s tune sounds a little different.

As a small business owner, Barber told the Associated Press that he is “well aware of the burden of taxes.”

But when it comes to cigarette excise taxes, Barber says, “that’s different … I like that.”

Barber cites studies that suggest “young people are less inclined to get engaged in tobacco products if they're more expensive,” notes the AP, adding that he would prefer to see extra revenue generated from cigarette excise taxes to go towards healthcare.

Barber also told the AP he would like to see the state’s 7-cent per pack cigarette excise tax raised to the national average of 92 cents per pack, “or whatever would be acceptable.”

South Carolina currently has the lowest cigarette excise tax in the United States.