I am in the convenience store business in Tex. Today a new $1 per pack tax was implemented on ciggarettes. Do you think this will deter smokers? What is your opinion? I refuse to pay another dollar and on top of that you must pay another .08 cents tax on the $1 tax! I realize smoking is a waste of money and that it is bad for your health etc, but I think this move is ridiculous!
$1.00 Per Pack Ciggarette Tax In Texas Jan 1st
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:41 am
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:47 am 1167698840
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January 2nd, 2007 at 12:51 am 1167699070
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:54 am 1167699282
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:56 am 1167699384
I'm twice as glad now we're quitting! We simply can't afford to pay that $1 tax on every pack and if we hadn't already decided to quit, that tax definitely would make us quit..or at least attempt to.
January 2nd, 2007 at 01:53 am 1167702788
January 2nd, 2007 at 02:17 am 1167704278
January 2nd, 2007 at 02:27 am 1167704825
Of course, addicts will pay whatever they need to pay. In Atlantic City, for example, cigarettes are over $10/pack in the casinos and they still sell plenty of them. Although if they are successful in passing the smoking ban for the casinos, that might bring an end to that. Of course, that will probably cost me money because I love going to the casino but never do because of the smoke. If they become smoke-free, I'm sure I will visit a lot more often.
January 2nd, 2007 at 02:28 am 1167704903
Mayb wilb wl change 2 other cheaper brand / DIY cigi?!
(I stay in M'sia)
January 2nd, 2007 at 02:48 am 1167706082
January 2nd, 2007 at 04:25 am 1167711909
Actually, WA state taxes liquor. I only wish that WA state would ban the lottery, too.
January 2nd, 2007 at 06:51 am 1167720719
January 2nd, 2007 at 07:47 am 1167724038
I used to think these people should pay more tax for healthcare and program, but for now it just passes the border of insanity. Make it illegal then. It seems unfair to tax one group of people SO MUCH for something the tobacco industry makes so much on. I would say tax the industry, but the would probably just pass the tax to the end-user anyway, eh?
I think the bottom line is I know too many smokers who are not deterred by higher taxes, just drowning in debts instead. California is slamming residents this year who bought cigs online to avoid taxes. They got individual records from the vendors and are going after the money - many people in for a nasty surprise.
I think my thinking has changed because I see so much lately how much things affect the poor. How much they are charged a premium on everything. So I thought about this issue a little different this year. It doesn't seem to be helping anyone, who knows where the tax money is REALLY going with all this robbing peter to pay paul in California right now. I figured the cig smokers deserved a small break.
Oh I just checked - the measure to raise taxes to $3.47 a pack from 87 cents did not pass after all. Hey I voted on the side of big tobacco apparently, great...
January 2nd, 2007 at 01:41 pm 1167745308
Overall, the rate of smoking in this country has gradually declined and now stands at about 21% of adults. Some of that drop is probably due to better education about the dangers of smoking. Some is due to the social stigma and bans on smoking in public places. And some is probably due to higher prices. I think whatever gets people to stop is good.
And you can't compare smoking and drinking. Smoking is highly addictive and has no beneficial qualities. Most people who drink alcohol do so on a very casual basis - very few are alcoholics. And there have been numerous studies showing medical benefits to moderate drinking. The two just aren't at all equivalent.
January 2nd, 2007 at 02:52 pm 1167749546
DisneySteve, I agree that more poor folks smoke than rich. Why? I haven't a clue. One would think it would be the other way around. However,it might be a self-medication sort of thing, I don't think it's an education issue but who knows?
January 2nd, 2007 at 04:47 pm 1167756436
the store makes 15 cents on each pack whoohoo the only one making money on cigarettes is our state
January 2nd, 2007 at 07:15 pm 1167765354
IMO, it only seems fair to charge smokers with an extra tax since they'll be using our tax dollars down the road.
January 2nd, 2007 at 08:01 pm 1167768096
The problem you run into with this argument is what about all the people who are obese. They are suffering (or will suffer) with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, strokes, arthritis, sleep apnea, cancer, etc. and will cost the system billions and billions of dollars. Their conditions are just as self-induced as lung disease is from smoking. How do you tax them?
January 2nd, 2007 at 08:29 pm 1167769756
January 3rd, 2007 at 03:12 am 1167793928
So much of the new research indicates that even though many people are consuming a moderate number of calories they are gaining weight. It is the food additives and preservatives, colorants, MSG and MSG act-alikes (of which there are close to 100), sulfates, sulfites, nitrates, nitrites, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweetners from non-natural sources that are causing tremendous weight gain in the American population.
It is also becoming clear that the problems with obesity in America began with the introduction of the food pyramid by the government and its gazillion servings of grain products, which just happened to coincide with an enormous surplus of grain, corn (and the resulting corn syrup), and rice that had been subsidized by the government. The whole low-fat, high carb phase that followed this coincides with the last 10 years of extreme weight gain in our country.
People have tried to eliminate all fat from their diets to the point that they have robbed themselves of the nutrients needed for healthy functioning. Did you know that your eyes require 20 grams of fat all by themselves each day to function properly? Or that brain function requires much more than that? Yet, fat is the enemy. The old party line. You need olive oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed, walnut, seasame, canola, omega-3 oils, for your body to funciton properly.
And what have they replaced the fat with? Low fat, high sugar, highly processed items. Or artificial sweetners, which despite their lack of real sugar, can still cause an insulin dump that gives diabetics great difficulty as they have bought in to the old party line. Which the body promptly stores any excess of as fat. Eating from the four food groups as in the 70s and 80s saw a much healthier population than we have now. Even the updated pyramid is so far off the mark. Balance is essential between fats, protein, and healthy minimally processed carbs like vegetables, fruits and whole wheat products.
And that doesn't even cover the folks with genetic issues or serotonin issues. People with low serotonin in their brains can be driven by extreme cravings to eat even when they are not hungry. Studies on mice and rats have shown this as well. Obviously some people eat to gluttony because they can. But I think the majority of the overweight population is driven by eating the wrong government approved foods.
Did you know that the genetic markers for food addiction, nicotine addiction, opiate addiction and alcohol addiction are all next to each other on the same chromosome? If you are prone for one it is likely you would be prone for all.
Anyway, comparing smokers, who have inflicted their issues on themselves (they've known for 30 years now that smoking kills you) with obese people who for the most part are trying to do what they have been told is right (because honestly, how many people do the research themselves and read the studies like I have?) is not even close to a straight-forward comparison. Just my opinion on the whole issue anyway.
January 4th, 2007 at 02:11 pm 1167919866
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January 5th, 2007 at 12:34 am 1167957253
January 5th, 2007 at 03:58 pm 1168012730
As a youngster, I remember driving in the car, windows rolled up and both parents puffing away- one after another...dinner was always concluded with smoking...home parties...smoking....tv...smoking....and on and on...and then there were the ashtrays...full of ashes and butts...ugh.
Now- I have parents who have major health issues--my dad is deteriorating from COPD (formerly known as emphazema) and struggles for every single breath he takes. (He quit smoking almost 30 years ago...but had previously smoked for 40)...and my moms arteries are shot due in part to all the smoking.
And we all pick up the tab for the added health costs from smoking....so tax away IMO. I have nothing good to say about this nasty habit.
January 9th, 2007 at 12:41 am 1168303304
And I am not discriminating here, I happen to be overweight and have eaten the bad for me foods and suffered the consequences. Now I am working to change my eating habits through educations (health education and nutrition) and exercise and activities. If you make the choice, live with the taxes and consequences. But just because you have free will and choice does not mean you should make those choices.
January 30th, 2007 at 10:21 pm 1170195708
I have heard all the crap for years. Thing is its an agenda and I am against it. I have heard that they are short of funds because of the costs - lets tax them to make up for the shortfall - they can fund it since they use it. Numbers are reduced, costs go up and guess what - they are shot of funds again, lets tax them again and again and as was said in a previous post, what help do these "addicts" get for nothing like other areas?
Alcohol - who needs it? There may be some medical uses but for that "occassional drinker" referred to, why take a chance on the possible addiction and death? Doesn't effect anyone else? Ask those that have lost loved ones involving drunk driving. An occassional drink doesn't make a diiffernce? One drink can effect judgement that could involve me on the road. How about the drunk on his porch that started shooting into the neighbors house from his porch (3 houses actually).
Go after smokers to make them quit? Triple taxes on alcohol, make a tax and Triple it for chocolate, triple it for....