Is This Cig. Tax Reasonable?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Is This Cig. Tax Reasonable?
54
Wed, 04-01-2009 - 12:59pm

The new cigarette taxes take effect today.


I don't roll cigarettes, but I found this to be quite harsh.  The average cost of a pound went from $15.99 to $60.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6352568.html


Are they just haphazardly throwing taxes out here and there, and hoping for the best?  If the real reason is for people to quit smoking.. and they do, what are they going to go after next to make up that revenue?  Should one section of the US be more responsible for child health care than the rest?


I'm disappointed in this new tax.  I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities that this could cause many stores to fail, and leave people without jobs.


I think smokers are such an easy target that no one's thinking ahead on this issue.


 


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 12:41pm

Which, if it occurs, will be more of a statement on their lack of perspective and judgement than it will be about the cost of tobacco products.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2008
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 12:45pm
And what?

 


"      

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:00pm

But I'm not going to blame the government for someone neglecting their children.


I haven't either.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2008
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:04pm
Then those who are addicted need to seek help rather than the easy way out by taking it out on their children.

 


"      

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2002
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:11pm

***And as an aside to a previous thread, to me this proves that legalizing drugs will not stop the flow from Mexico, or anywhere else.



iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2002
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:17pm

***Just something to think about, though, if you're going to up someone's addiction cost by 300%.****


If we are going to argue for the government supporting low cost addiction for the sake of the children, again, legal drugs cost a lot less than black market drugs. Vicodin from a pharmacy costs about $1 a pill, and on the streets $20 +. Isn't that an argument for legalization of drugs? Bringing down the cost of peoples addictions through a greater supply, therefore providing families with more disposible



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2009
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:24pm
I thought that only the federal tax portion of cigarettes went up 300%, not the cost of a pack of cigarettes going up 300%.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2009
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:36pm

Let's put it another way....Is it "reasonable" to smoke?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2009
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:45pm

Canada has much higher taxes on tobacco than in the US....here are some numbers you may find interesting. I cut it from this long piece I found (link at bottom of page):

For many Canadians, cigarettes are too cheap.
High taxes are one of the best ways to protect Canadian
kids from smoking.

Country after country has shown that raising the price of
cigarettes is one of the most effective ways to discourage
ids from smoking and to encourage smokers to quit.
In some parts of Canada, tobacco taxes are high, and
cigarettes are comparatively expensive. Even the most
highly-taxed Canadian cigarettes are cheaper than those
sold in the many OECD countries.

In 1994, the federal government launched a price-war on
cigarette smuggling, and 5 provinces joined in. As a result
taxes on Canadian cigarettes varied widely for almost a
decade. Tax increases in 2002 have narrowed, but not
closed, the gap.

Price of Cigarettes in Canadian
Provinces, April 2002

North West Territories
$85.55

Saskatchewan
$79.04

Manitoba
$78.60

Newfoundland
$78.14

Alberta
$74.85

British Columbia
$74.85

Nunavut
$73.99

Nova Scotia
$73.59

Prince Edward Island
$72.60

New Brunswick
$70.67

Yukon
$68.85

Quebec
$59.97

Ontario
$59.01

------snip

Where cigarettes are expensive, Canadians smoke less.

How lower taxes have hurt health can be seen by
comparing the number of cigarettes smoked in provinces
where taxes are high (the four western provinces &
Newfoundland) with the number smoked in provinces
where cigarettes are cheaper (Ontario, Quebec, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).
During the 1990s, there was a 24% drop in the amount
smoked per person in the high tax provinces, but only a 9%
drop in the provinces with cheaper cigarettes.

http://74.125.93.104/search?q=cache:dprfMrYNChcJ:www.smoke-free.ca/
pdf_1/TOBACCOINCANADA2003.pdf+canada+quit+tax+tobacco&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2009
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 1:54pm

There will be those that will find it difficult/impossible to quit....Unfortunately, there will also always be some parents who spend for their own desires above those of their children (drinking, smoking, gambling, manicures etc....).

Having the experience of the way cigarettes have been taxed in Canada over the years (both when it was low, then very high)....I can say without a doubt that many people have quit smoking because of price....but again, there are some die-hards that cannot or will not stop (using whatever excuses and justifications they can come up with). However, it has been shown that high tobacco prices does play a very significant role in discouraging people from taking up the habit in the first place.