Tom Cavannaugh

I just completed a wonderful trip along the American eastern seaboard and found that the prices for cigarettes vary from state to state. In Virginia, the prices were as low as 1.50$ US for a pack and in New York were as high as 8.00$ for a pack. Here in the UK, all the prices seem to be the same across the country for smokes. Where can one find the cheapest cigarettes in America?

junebug

Tom, I know some smokers in New York (where the prices for smokes are ludicrous) who buy them from Native Americans over the internet. It's a little insider's trick. The Native Americans apparently are exempt from the federal taxes that states have to pay, therefore they can sell their own brands of cigs for significantly less. It does vary from state to state, in the southern states like Virginia and the Carolinas theyr'e cheaper because those are tobacco-growing states. Their congressmen would make sure their constituents could puff away at a discount.

rob

Don't have an answer for you but I was wondering about what you think about the huge difference in the percentage of people who smoke in the UK and Europe compared to the US. Why is smoking so prevailent there? In Scotland someone asked me why I didn't smoke. I never thought I would be asked a question like that.

robbie

Dear Tom

As Junebug noted above each State has the right and trust me exercises it to tax cigarettes. Kentucky has lower prices on cigarettes because they are a tobacco growing State. The other thing they do here in the South is offer generic brands of cigarettes at a much reduced price then the brand names. We traveled to Great Britain about 5 years ago and noticed that alot of people smoke over there. My husband and I considered the exchange rate at the time and it would have cost us 5.00 US to buy a pack of smokes over there at the time. I am glad I don't smoke anymore. Consider the South on your next visit to the US. Not just for great prices on cigarettes, but for an awesome vacation. Happy smoking.

Peace, Robbie

xx

Virginia has low prices because the state taxes are low on cirarettes. Our elected officials are afraid to raise the tax because of the tobacco industry. Meanwhile the state is going down the tubes for lack of money. Our esteemed former govenor Jim Gilmore got elected three years ago by promising to cut the personal property taxes on vehicles. Of course there was no other money to replace the lost tax money. He's the one Dubya picked to head the RNP and later dumped.

Robert

South Carolina is in the process of raising its taxes on cigarettes 53 cents per pack...the tax is currently about 7 cents per pack. Once the tax goes through, SC will be about average when it comes to cig prices (c. $4.00/pack) but will be among the highest Southern states.

bos

smoking is just not as popular in the US as it is in Europe. The stench of cigarette smoke is considered very unsavory for many Americans, and the health risks have convinced many to quit smoking. The widespread view on smoking is that it is a "nasty habit". I believe that in Europe, cigarette smoking is still considered to be somewhat sophisticated, even though people understand the health risks.

LA, San Francisco, New York, Boston, and other cities have forbid smoking in any "workplace" which includes restaurants and bars. You can smoke on the streets - sometimes - and you can smoke in your car and at home. "Second hand smoke", or inhalation of somebody else's exhaled smoke has become a big issue and the anti-smoking lobby has been using it to force people to quit.

The absolute cheapest smokes can be found at Native American reservations, because they don't assess taxes. There's actually a few websites that sell cheap smokes, and the websites were listed in this week's Economist.

bos

So anyway in follow up to my last post, the prevailing negative viewpoint against smokes in teh US has allowed politicians to easily pass tough laws prohibiting smoking, drastically increast taxes, and assign penalties to those who light up in a place wehre smoking is not allowed. Lots of smokers in the US are left feeling like their rights to smoke are unfairly being beaten down. Non smokers feel like their right to breathe fresh air in a tavern are being taken away by smokers. Tavern owners are feeling like the rights to make the rules in tehir private establishments are being trampled. Lots of discussion, but taxes will continue to skyrocket, thus driving prices through the roof.

xyz

ttt

stank

stanky smokers should be forced to pay MORE for thier disgusting habit

jason

stank,
what about fat pigs who eat McDonalds. Shold they be forced to pay $9 or that big mac? I think they should. Just like fat asses should pay twice for their seats on airplanes!

"Does this dress make me look fat?"
"No, your ass makes you look fat."

YZX

yes i am really fat and i smoke and have bo and live in a trailer park...but i still wear the most expensive perfume and drive a c5...touch me!!

Tom Cavannaugh

You yanks are really strange.
Cheers!