Cigarettes cost what? Is it fair? (New York, Buffalo: sale, transporting, to buy)

[Digital_Duck]

are cigarettes really $10.00 a pack there?

If so - what are they in Canada? - in the 70's there were almost $4.00

What do you think of people getting charged that much?

[Canerican]

I'm not sure about here. They were about $5 a pack until 2004, when they about doubled, now they are about $9.50 a pack.

[Canerican]

I should have answered the rest.

In Canada I supported it because there is single payer health care. Smokers cost more, and they need to pay more, and cigarette taxes is a good way to do that.

However, in the US, there is no socialized health care (as it should be!), therefore there is no reason for high taxes. They say it is to prevent people from smoking. That's not the government's job. If they really believe smoking is wrong, make a law against the sale of cigarettes.

If the government can put a prohibitive tax on cigarettes, what else can they tax to prevent people from using? Add a 200% tax to gas because of the scary global warming? Add a $10,000 tax to anti-Obama books?

So yeah, I am really against using taxes to change people's behavior. Use laws for that.

[Dockwalliper]

Having never bought a pack the only thoughts that cross my mind are..."Why do people still smoke?" and "I'm glad I don't smoke".

[CAugust]

it doesnt matter if you smoke or not - its wrong - end of story ...... taxes here suck .. pppl just go to the rez ... if that ends they will drive to pa

[UpstaterInBklyn]

It's just a politically correct way to extract revenue from an addicted population. Demand for cigarettes, while steadily declining, is considered "inelastic" to the rate of taxation. In other words, smokers will continue to buy no matter how high the taxes because they are addicted.

The state of New York takes in $1.3 billion per year in tobacco taxes. The government makes more net revenue from a pack of cigarettes than the tobacco company. How "addicted" is our state government to the revenue? Very.

One third of that revenue goes to the General Fund, and two thirds goes into the "Heath Care Reform Act" budget. The HCRA is a general fund that finances a multitude of heath care programs. There is a common misconception that all tobacco tax revenues go toward smoking-related health care and anti-smoking campaigns. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Disclaimer: I am not a smoker.

[Digital_Duck]

Originally Posted by CAugust

it doesnt matter if you smoke or not - its wrong - end of story ...... taxes here suck .. pppl just go to the rez ... if that ends they will drive to pa

its wrong - end of story?

So is having sex with animals - yet it is literally LEGAL in about 30 states.

What is really wrong is that people insist on making other people bend to their opinions.

What about drugs that cause cancer? Is that acceptable?

Why is there such a vendetta against smokers?

There are a lot of other issues which are a lot worse and no one fights people over that - why?

[twojulybabies]

I haven't been in Buffalo since last July, but i will tell you that here in Tucson, Marlboros are $7.39 a pack. Most Camel's are $7.03. Parliament is $8.69. When I was in Buffalo, I would try to go to the Rez to save $$, but more often would have to buy them at Wilson Farms when they were on sale.

[Digital_Duck]

Originally Posted by twojulybabies

I haven't been in Buffalo since last July, but i will tell you that here in Tucson, Marlboros are $7.39 a pack. Most Camel's are $7.03. Parliament is $8.69. When I was in Buffalo, I would try to go to the Rez to save $$, but more often would have to buy them at Wilson Farms when they were on sale.

So - smokers - come vacation in North Carolina and stock up on a couple cartons. Wife said the other day she saw them up to $5.00 a pack.

.... just remember that transporting cigarettes has it's legal limit.

[CAugust]

Originally Posted by Digital_Duck

its wrong - end of story?

So is having sex with animals - yet it is literally LEGAL in about 30 states.

What is really wrong is that people insist on making other people bend to their opinions.

What about drugs that cause cancer? Is that acceptable?

Why is there such a vendetta against smokers?

There are a lot of other issues which are a lot worse and no one fights people over that - why?

It's wrong to tax things under a veiled reason. They are taxing them to make money, not to save lives. People are addicted to a lot of things, caffiene, alcohol, food - do we start to tax the obese now? Remember when they said hair dye and red dye in lipstick cause cancer? Do we raise the taxes on those as well? It's ridiculous. I smoke and I still agree to no smoking on planes and in public places because it does irritate others and can get out of hand, but taxes on cigs has gotten out of hand. No one including me is saying that it is a healthy thing to do, but neither are a lot of bad habits that do not get taxed as much.