June 16th, 2008 8:14 AM Eastern
New York’s New Cigarette Tax Encouraging Many to Quit
by Jessica Doyle
New York smokers have been sent outside in all kinds of weather, coughed at in disdain, and now they are burdened with the most expensive cigarette taxes in the nation.
The number of calls to the state’s Smoker’s Quitline quadrupled to nearly 10,000 calls during the week of June 2, when the full $2.75-a-pack tax kicked in, New York Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines said. Fewer than 2,300 people called for help during the same week in 2007.
Tags: Albany, cigarette tax, Dr. Richard Daines, lung cancer, New York, quit smoking, Smoker's Quitline, smoking, smoking cessation
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My bigger concern is not about someone quitting smoking, we all agree that it is beneficial to all for people to stop smoking. My concern is how can a government be it, local, state or federal legally impose such a high tax on one particular product? If governments are so truley concerned about the wellfair of it’s people than why not ban the product all together and make it illegal?
How is this increase of taxes not seen as price gouging by the government? Which is illegal. The bigger thing here also is that once it starts it will not stop. It started with tobacco, whats next? We have already seen in New York that they wanted to inpose a tax on the fast food industry. Who is next after that, the candy industy, what about the auto industry, people die and/or get killed by cars everyday. Everyday you can see a little more of our society being run by government. At what point do we say ok I want to be a socialist state or a free society?
Excactly. Why not just make them illegal? Ban them from stores in the state. OR, why not a $5.00 tax? Why not raise taxes on beer and wine? People would stop drinking and driving so much. States could save money on treating alcholics. I know some call it a desease. Why isn’t smoking a desease? Who decides this crap anyway? The reason they don’t raise the tax on alcohol is because the politicians would have to pay more for their booze! Can’t have that.