But it might make them poor! Today, NY State has introduced an additional $1.25 tax--for a total $2.75 NY State tax--on cigarettes, which means a pack of smokes is likely to cost between $8.00 to $8.50 in NYC (NYC has a $1.25 tax). NY1 got some comments from smokers on the streets:

"Wow, it's a lot of money," said one smoker. "Probably not enough to make me quit. I don't know how much it will take to make me quit." more ›