Tax 'em if you got 'em

[Write-brained]

New York has hiked its cigarette tax again, to a national high of $2.75 per pack.

That means the average cost of a single pack of cigarettes there will now be about $6.

Meanwhile, in South Carolina the cigarette tax is 7 cents, for an average cost of about $3.10.

Either way, I'm damn glad I'm not paying for cigarettes any more, though I do miss them.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/04/03/ap4850375.html

ALBANY, N.Y. - New York's government leaders have agreed to boost the state cigarette tax by $1.25 per pack to create the nation's highest state cigarette tax, officials said Wednesday.

New York's $2.75-per-pack tax would jump ahead of New Jersey for the highest state tax in the nation. New York has been ranked the 16th highest with a tax of $1.50 tax per pack.

In New York, the average price of a pack of cigarettes is about $5.82 statewide.

New Jersey's tax is $2.57 a pack, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The lowest state cigarette tax is in tobacco growing states, including South Carolina where the tax is 7 cents per pack.

 

[farmerjerome]

This makes me almost as happy as UConn losing.

Maybe this will get Dr. J to quit smoking.

 

[spnited]

You haven't been able to buy cigs in NYC for less than $6 for about 5 years. It's $7+ now, including sales tax
NJ with sales tax added is minimum $6 a pack or more.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

As long as the addicts keep paying.

 

[Write-brained]

As long as the addicts keep paying.

Wow. You, the government, Big Tobacco and every drug dealer in America has the same attitude.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

As long as the addicts keep paying.

Wow. You, the government, Big Tobacco and every drug dealer in America has the same attitude.

What do I care if people want to smoke themselves to death? (And not saying I never have a cig, either.)

Pay for the privilege.

 

[mike311gd]

I almost became a smoker in high school, though I doubt I could ever admit it to my parents if it became a full-time thing. I, at 15, gave my friend $5 to get me a pack. I expected change, and he said that's what it cost -- in 1998. I ended up giving most of them away, anyway, and never and never asked him to buy me another pack. It was too much a hassle covering up the smell on my breath.

But I became addicted to Reese's Pieces, and that was tough to quit.

 

[Lieslntx]

I've got to say that I love my cigarettes. Unfortunately for my pocketbook (and my husband's wallet) we do do not yet consider $6 a pack to be too much. I said I would quit when they hit $4 but alas, it didn't happen. Maybe when they get to be four figures a pack then I'll consider. Until then, I'll keep paying my taxes and enjoying every one that I smoke. Now don't bash me, as I keep my smoking to the privacy of my home & car and don't have any children at home. I enjoy it and plan to continue. Taxes be damned.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

STICK IT TO THE TAX MAN

SWITCH TO CRACK

 

[Tom Petty]

STICK IT TO THE TAX MAN

SWITCH TO CRACK

there's nothing quite like that first pull right after you get out of bed.

 

[Football_Bat]

Bloody pack of smokes was 5 marks ($3) when I was in Deutschland 15 years ago, and I thought they were expensive as hell then.

 

[JR]

Depending on where you buy 'em anywhere from $7.50 to $9.00 a pack up here. That's for a SMALL pack.

But you do get a free warning with each purchase:

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Just wait until the next van from Carolina cruises through your neighborhood.

Sin taxes bite.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

You haven't been able to buy cigs in NYC for less than $6 for about 5 years. It's $7+ now, including sales tax
NJ with sales tax added is minimum $6 a pack or more.

Never smoked, hopefully never will, nut in NJ it's less than $6.00, about $5.50. I'd be pretty annoyed if I were a smoker, but they do almost as much (slight hyperbole) taxing on our gas and then blame the prices on the oil companies, so I'll leave my outrage there for now.

 

[goalmouth]

It was too much a hassle covering up the smell on my breath.

So, what do you use now?

 

[spnited]

You haven't been able to buy cigs in NYC for less than $6 for about 5 years. It's $7+ now, including sales tax
NJ with sales tax added is minimum $6 a pack or more.

Never smoked, hopefully never will, nut in NJ it's less than $6.00, about $5.50. I'd be pretty annoyed if I were a smoker, but they do almost as much (slight hyperbole) taxing on our gas and then blame the prices on the oil companies, so I'll leave my outrage there for now.

It's a minimum of $5.50-5.60 plus 7% sales tax. That puts it right around $6 a pack.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

You can get Marlboros for less than 4 bucks a pack in Virginia. Virginia is for diseased lung lovers.

 

[alleyallen]

i'm wondering if smokes will be cheaper here in North Carolina than they are in Texas.

 

[Magnum]

NY's going to have a huge influx of smuggled cigarettes coming their way now that their cigarettes cost so much more than those in the South.

Hell, it might be a good way to supplement my income. All I need is a U-Haul and about $3,500 to buy 1,000 cartons in the South. I can then drive them to NY where I can sell them to distributors for a total of $6,000 who will also take in a profit.

After gas and cost to rent the truck, I made about a $2,000 profit. Not bad for a weekend's work.

 

[Tom Petty]

i'm wondering if smokes will be cheaper here in North Carolina than they are in Texas.

i think NC's sin taxes are damn low.