Cigarette tax: Where there's smoke there's ire

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July 1, 2010

By JEFF MEYERS Staff Writer The Press Republican Thu Jul 01, 2010, 03:28 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — New Yorkers heading to the store for a pack of cigarettes today will need a little extra money.

Recently passed legislation that raised the tax for a pack of cigarettes by $1.60 goes into effect today, putting the total state tax on a cigarette pack at $4.35, the highest in the nation.

The increase, which puts the price of a pack of cigarettes between $8 and $10, is being praised by the health-care community, though many smokers fear ulterior motives for the tax hike.

PROMPTS QUITTING

"From a public-health perspective, anytime cigarette prices go up is a good thing," said Karen Derusha, tobacco-control specialist for the Adirondack Tobacco Free Network.

"From past experience in New York and other states, two very important things happen when the price goes up. First, the number of young people who start to smoke decreases, and also you see more adult smokers quitting."

And that is the bottom line, health-care advocates contend.

"That's what it's all about," Derusha said. "Our focus is always going to be the health of the community. Getting people to stop smoking and keeping kids from smoking is one of the best ways to do that.

"The tax increase is a great motivator for people who are smokers and tobacco users."

FEEL OPPRESSED

But Dennis Montgomery of Plattsburgh does not agree.

"I just want to know why we're being singled out," said Montgomery, a long-time smoker.

"It's outright harassment of smokers. It's ridiculous."

Montgomery said he has no plans to quit because of the tax increase but will probably start purchasing cigarettes at Akwesasne or Ganienkeh territories, where cigarette products are sold tax-free.

He does not buy the smoking-cessation argument, either.

"That's what they (health advocates) say, but the real reason is to increase the state's tax income. What I'd like to know is who is representing us? It seems to me that this is taxation without representation."

Mike Archer of Plattsburgh also feels smokers are unfairly being singled out.

"If they kept taxing dentists or increased tax rates on food, how would those people feel? They want to put taxes on sugar products, like soda. How would people feel about that? We feel this is unfair, that they're picking on us."

Increasing the tax rates on cigarettes may have an impact on smoking rates, but it will also impact the smoking industry, Archer said.

"Everything is relative. When you kill the smoking industry and kill the bar industry, then you're going to put more people out of work, and the economy will just keep getting worse."

SALES

Retailers are also bracing for a possible decrease in cigarette sales.

Carla Ahrens, an employee at Lucky's Mini Mart in Morrisonville, said that time will determine cigarette sales.

"When this happens, people say they will quit or go buy them at the Indian reservations, but most come back after a while," she said. "That's usually the norm."

Ahrens said the price of a carton of Marlboro cigarettes, which before was $80.25, will likely reach $100.

USA Gold cigarettes are the cheapest cartons sold at Lucky's, and they went for $70 before the tax increase.

STATS TOUTED

The New York State Department of Health estimates that 86,000 smokers will quit in direct response to the tax increase, and 170,000 youth will not start to smoke.

"We are not anti-smoking," Derusha said. "We are smoking-cessation advocates. We understand the difficulties with trying to quit smoking, and we want to promote the help that is out there."

Although state-sponsored smoking-cessation programs have faced budget cuts that have reduced the number of statewide advertisements for smoking cessation, the state's Smokers Quitline remains active and ready to help, Derusha said.

"It's a free resource, and it's available to all New Yorkers."

According to literature from the Quitline, tobacco is the leading cause of death in the nation, killing more Americans each year than alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire and AIDS combined.

All tobacco products are subject to today's tax increase, Derusha pointed out, including mini cigars and chewing tobacco.

The state also increased taxes on cigarettes in 2008, when the rate went from $1.50 to $2.75 per pack.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com