Cigarette Taxes Burn Smoker’s Cash

Pity for smokers has been low on the list of society’s concerns, especially in New York. Not only is smoking banned in all public indoor areas throughout New York, but smokers are also branded with a stigma. Now, on top of the already extreme New York state tobacco tax, smokers will have to puff down the largest federal tobacco tax increase ever.

I’m a smoker, so that might invalidate my position to some non-smokers. I am also a college student that doesn’t have too much income. I am also someone who isn’t going to stop getting my nicotine fix, because the government — federal or state — decides they want to charge me more.

It is complete rubbish when a government officials say, “This will help people quit smoking.” I’m sorry, but I don’t think you really give a damn if anyone quits smoking. You want that money to come flowing in and you know smokers will give it you.

Anyone notice the recent “Obesity Tax” Governor Patterson proposed? The tax would’ve placed a 15 percent tax on all non-diet drinks . Yes, that means all you soda drinkers would have been paying dearly. Oh, but no, we wouldn’t want to upset those soda guzzlers. Patterson quickly backed off of this carbonated demand .

A vice tax is the simplest way to grab cash. Everyone has a vice, but the government will likely try to tax any vice they can in this recession. I get it; we are all low on cash. Still, the easy targets for the taxing torture have been a smoker.

Last year alone the New York tobacco tax increased from $1.50 to $2.75 per pack . That is a $1.25 increase in one year! There certainly is no sympathy when you see an increase that high. Also, let us not forget the additional 4 percent state sales tax on tobacco products.

Eric Lindbloom, director of policy research for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, told USA Today that the average state tax is currently $1.19 a pack. New York is far beyond the average with their menacing $2.75 rate. All the New Yorkers that continue to smoke have to make a cut in their spending somewhere and that often means not patronizing local businesses.

The first thing I cut out was going to the bar more than once a week. Also, I go out Friday night because I can save money with 2-for-1 draft beer night at a local bar. Before I used to go out at least twice a week to the bars. I am not talking about getting smashed either. It is just nice to go downtown with some friends and relax.

The next thing I cut out were restaurants that didn’t except “Hawk Dollars,” which is basically a college account you can deposit money into and use at local businesses. For most students this is where their parents can deposit money and know how it is going to be used. They could even follow how their son or daughter spends their cash online (I doubt most parents know this). There are a lot of places I would like eat at more often, but if they don’t accept Hawk Dollars, sorry, they’re cut.

There are ways to get around the state tax. Smokers could go to a different state if they are close enough. Indian reservations have always been a safe-haven for smokers too. The Internet leads to even more possibilities. You can get cigarettes at a greatly reduced price on the Internet, because it also avoids the state tax. It doesn’t matter whether or not this is legal, because some people will do it in desperate times.

This tax isn’t going to help New York’s economy. It’s going to have smokers cutting their expenses in other areas, or going around the state’s tax. The majority of smokers aren’t going to stop smoking even with the new federal increase. Sure, we are pissed off, but we’re still going to light up and inhale it all down — no matter how much they charge us.


This article was originally published in The Little Rebellion
Photo is courtesy of Flickr user Lionoche