New York To Raise Cigarette Taxes, Prices Could Reach $25 Per Pack
Â With cigarette prices going up in cities all over the nation, it appears that New York will soon hold the crown once again as the stateÂ with the most expensive cigarettes. Cigarettes have been heavily taxed by state and federal regulators, with the cost increasing steadily over the past 20 years, but now New York will be adding an additional tax to them.The decision was made after congress saw that New Yorkers were still buying cigarettes like crazy, even with their ridiculous prices. A study conducted by the state science board showed that people in New York spend more money on tobacco then they do on food year-over-year.âTaxing cigarettes is a perfect way for us to earn money for our schools, for our roads, really for whatever we want,â said New York state representative Aaron Silver. âWe might just use the money to have a big party at the State House. It doesnât matter. People need their smokes, and theyâll pay whatever the cost.ââIn the long run, theyâre just going to get what they want,â said New York smoker Jared Coff. âI donât have time to drive into Jersey for my cigarettes, and even if I did the gas would equal the damn savings anyway. I might as well cut my losses and just pay whatever theyâre asking. I hear that Camels, which is my brand, could hit $25 or $30 a pack. Itâs a Goddamn racket is what it is.âCurrently, the average price of cigarettes nationwide is about $8, so New Yorkâs new tax will essentially triple the cost of a normal pack. Prices in New York City tend to trend slightly higher already, at anywhere from $12-$14 for a pack of many major brands.âWhat else can I do, really, except pay it?â said smoker Chris Moke. âI smoke, and the prices are going up. So they double? Whatever. You pay it, you bitch, and you move on. Really, thatâs the only option, as far as I can see it. The price of milk has gone up a ton over the years, too, but I ainât putting water in my cereal, ya know?âAccording to a recent street poll, over 90% of New Yorkers say that they are against the new tax, but that they would still pay for their cigarettes. When the idea of just quitting was brought up, and overwhelming 100% said that the thought never crossed their mind.Â