Cigarette Tax Jumps Tomorrow, Free Nicotine Patches in NYC

Start hoarding or start quitting: Tomorrow, New York City smokers will cough up at least $9 per pack for even the cheapest generic "Victory" cigarettes. The 62-cent federal excise tax increase goes into effect at midnight, pushing the cost for pack-a-day smokers to more than $250 a month. The Health Department expects the price hike will motivate as many as 20,000 New Yorkers to quit, and officials are ready to capitalize on the sticker shock tomorrow by distributing free nicotine patches. [Here's a pdf of the locations.] NYC cigarettes became the most expensive in the nation last June, when New York State’s
cigarette tax rose by $1.25 per pack (from $1.50 to $2.75). The Health Department says the price hike resulted in more than 2,700 calls to 311 for help to quit over the course of one week—three times the number of calls during the same period in the prior year. 300,000 fewer adult New Yorkers smoke than in 2002, which is partially due to price hikes, indoor smoking bans, and the growing realization that tracheotomies aren't so cool.

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By John Del Signore in News on March 31, 2009 2:10 PM

Comments [rss]

valeriob

most expensive cigarettes in the WORLDDDDDDDD

pickycapellit

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/benefits-employee-assistance-plans-eap/211197-1.html

dogbraincatscan

So, if I want to take advantage of the free patch, I have to not have work today? Awesome. the tax goes up for good, and will keep growing, but theyre only gonna help us out with a subsidized patch for one day.

Kevin Walsh

'You're dead son, get yourself buried.'

AJ Hunsicker

www.forgotten-ny.com

NannyState

Surgeon General's Warning: Smoking causes politicians.

solidago

The crazy cost of cigarettes certainly is helping to keep me from picking the habit back up, as I have multiple times.

Såkandulæredet

Eh fck the cigarettes, if you need them get out of the state and move to one of those tobacco states

ides_of_march

If everybody stopped smoking tomorrow, the government would be moaning about the loss of revenue.

If the state cared a wit about the public's well-being, they wouldn't be encouraging gambling by aggressively pushing lotto and scratch cards on people who can least afford it.

virgilstarkwell

source?

or are you just talking out your ass?

hotstepper

NYS, "Smokers, you are my bitch!"

pickycapellit

habitual smokers regularly die younger. even with treatment for smoke related illnesses, they take less out of the healthcare system then ederly people that live in a nursing home for 15 years do. therefore, they invest more in the healthcare from regular taxable wages than non smokers.

money is pilferred at all levels. the entire US system needs be fixed. it's not the fault of smokers.