Cigarettes???????????? (spring break, credit card, home)

[Calico696]

Originally Posted by STrapani1105

hmm, I guess times were different back then. my mom started when she was 13. I didn't start until I was in high school.

Much easier to buy back then. When I was about 6 I used to go to the corner deli for my mom all the time, buy her cigarettes and pick up other types of groceries. Nowadays, kids aren't even allowed to go to the store on there own let alone by cigarettes. I remember cigarettes being about 60 cents a pack.

[gradstudent77]

Originally Posted by mike0421

If they are so bad, why not just ban the product? Oh wait, that would be a loss of tax revenue. The politicians call it a sin tax: I call the politcians full of $hi*.

No, its because cigarettes will become the new cocaine.

[gradstudent77]

Originally Posted by mike0421

Kate is absolutely correct (as usual) in her observation: the tax on smoking will be a gateway to tax other forms of behavior government (on the surface) does not approve of. Trans fats, alcohol, etc. This is the pusillanimous, craven mentality that politicians regularly invoke to compensate for previous fiscal inpropriety. When politicians propose irresponsible spending, they will subsequently hide behind a banner to make it all good. "The children" is the most frequently used, but "it's for your own good, safety first" is also very effective (especially with affluent, suburban parents). These regulations are another example of an iron fist contained inside a velvet glove.

The idea behind something like a sin tax is to make an individual bear the actual costs of his or her consumption. Non-smokers are subsidizing smokers' medical expenses without a cigarette tax. I haven't read an economic analysis of what exactly the figure is, but I'd wager a hefty sum that current cigarette taxes are not even close to erasing the non-smoker to smoker subsidy.

[njmike]

Depending on the brand, a pack runs around $3.50 to $5.00. USA Gold and Sonoma are the cheapest.

[njkate]

Originally Posted by FlyersFan

I thought parents were supposed to be role models for their children ?

Uh Duh..the children in question are 36 & 31 years old..neither smoke
get a grip

[njkate]

Well I knew we would not be able to keep this thread focused on the COST of cigarettes and most of the cost being taxes with out the holier than thou crowd chiming in.....even though I requested it not turn into a cons of smoking thread

As people stop smoking or somehow finding cheaper places to buy their smokes and the TAX revenue declines.. Not to mention all the tobacco workers being out of jobs....I will just sit back & see what the gov proposes to tax to replace that lost revenue...there are many many items out there that to some can be classified as sin, luxury etc etc...hmmm wine, beer, liquor, make up, hair dye..golf ( if you can afford the greens..that's luxury) McDonalds..hell all fast food that cause fat people..

The bottom line is the gov will GET their money by hook or by crook and something you may enjoy may be the next tax target

[Alex07860]

Originally Posted by njkate

Well I knew we would not be able to keep this thread focused on the COST of cigarettes and most of the cost being taxes with out the holier than thou crowd chiming in.....even though I requested it not turn into a cons of smoking thread

As people stop smoking or somehow finding cheaper places to buy their smokes and the TAX revenue declines..I will just sit back & see what the gov proposes to tax to replace that lost revenue...there are many many items out there that to some can ve classified as sin, luxury etc etc

I say let's tax Chocolate! who's w/ me? I mean, is not only bad enough that they tax tobacco up to the wazoo, but they're taking all the places where you can smoke from Public buildings to Restaurants & bar, what's next? our bedrooms?

[njkate]

Originally Posted by Calico696

Much easier to buy back then. When I was about 6 I used to go to the corner deli for my mom all the time, buy her cigarettes and pick up other types of groceries. Nowadays, kids aren't even allowed to go to the store on there own let alone by cigarettes. I remember cigarettes being about 60 cents a pack.

Hey did your deli sell "Lucies"??? Loose cigs where you could buy like 5 instead of a whole pack??

[njkate]

Originally Posted by Alex07860

I say let's tax Chocolate! who's w/ me? I mean, is not only bad enough that they tax tobacco up to the wazoo, but they're taking all the places where you can smoke from Public buildings to Restaurants & bar, what's next? our bedrooms?

I'm with you...chocolate, tax it under the obesity tax...

[86Sebring]

Anybody know the nearest indian reservation that sells cheap Cigs near
I-80? I guess in PA. When we used to live in Queens, I would drive out to exit 64 on LIE, there are a couple of stores that sell cigs for half the regular store price.