Monday, August 2, 2010

New York Hikes Cigarette Tax to Highest in Nation

Dressed in red on March 15, New York You’re the Cure advocates met with over forty legislative offices to voice their support for increasing the state’s cigarette tax- and their show of support worked!

Starting on July 1, the state’s cigarette tax increased by $1.60, making the total tax per pack $4.35, the highest in the nation. It is estimated this will encourage over 100,000 adult smokers to quit and prevent over 170,000 kids from ever beginning this deadly habit. The budget bill also includes language to curb cigarette tax evasion. And to encourage smokers to kick the habit rather than switch to lower priced tobacco products, the budget also includes the following:

-Increases the tax on other tobacco products - like cigars, chewing tobacco and pipe tobacco - from 46 percent to 75 percent of wholesale price;
-Increases the tax on snuff from $0.96 per ounce to $2.00 per ounce; and
-Imposes a tax on "little cigars" at a rate equivalent to the cigarette tax rate.

Numerous volunteers from throughout the state also helped secure this victory by writing letters to their local papers and calling their legislators to express their support for a high cigarette tax. Congratulations to New York You’re the Cure advocates for achieving this important legislative victory, and helping New York become the highest tax per pack state in the nation!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The cost of cigarettes made me quit. You would like to think it was my health but today I have those benefits. On September 15, 2010 it will be 2 years without a cigarette and I don't miss them one bit. I was one person my friends thought would never quit and if I can do it..anyone can. I have saved so much money you would not believe!

Anonymous said...

Just recently visited family in New York and cigarettes are now @$13 a pack. I cannot for the life of anyone see how you can pay that much for cigarettes.. and to be honest, why does it even cost that much. Some of this is a little ridulous, but if it stops people from smoking that would be excellent..

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