New Taxes Take Smokers By Surprise

Taxes Tobacco The new taxes were supposed to start in April but some manufacturers have already raised prices.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, March 13, 2009 - 4:36 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, March 13, 2009 - 4:40 pm CST

20 bucks doesn't go as far as it used to for cigarettes.

“Usually I buy seven packs for $20, today I only got 5, that's awful,” says smoker Shelley Porter.
Many cigarette manufacturers have increased their per-pack price by about a dollar, starting this week. The earlier-than-expected price hike caught Tobacco Shack owner Bruce Frichter off guard. He says they're already pinched by existing taxes.

“$6 a carton difference between Mississippi and Alabama's strong and when a person's on a fixed income and when they're buying for the month a 10 minute ride they're going to save per carton,” says Frichter. In addition to the taxes most smokers will see, retailers have to pay a floor tax on stuff already in the store. That means every item has to be inventoried and that has to be paid in the coming months

“I'd rather take all my tobacco products, stow 'em in the battleship and throw everything in mobile bay and have a mobile bay tobacco party,” says Frichter. A spokesman for Philip Morris' parent company says they raised prices before April first to get a jump on floor taxes. The spokesman says people with concerns about the new taxes can go here. Frichter says the biggest hit will be on roll your own tobacco which jumped from about 17-bucks a pound to more than 40 next month. He says it's not a good time to raise taxes.

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myopinion Says:

Thu, Apr 02, 2009 at 1:46 pm

I think I will check in to the Salvia plant. May have to grow me some flowers….

Sharky701 Says:

Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 12:26 pm

I’m wondering what happened to individual rights and freedoms that our founding fathers faught and died for. Taxation without representation, taxation of single out groups, discrimination, aren’t these things what america is supposed to be against? If one group of people is going to be singled out and punished with an unfair tax, then maybe we should single out every single group of different people so that each has their own unfair tax burden and no one is left out. For instance, add $1 tax to health club memberships, the sme as the tax on smokers, the health nuts can help pay for the bailouts and the stimulus packages too. While we’re at it lets add $1 tax on KY Jelly, so the sex fiends and nymphos aren’t left out, and how about $1 tax on cd’s and dvd’s, oh well how do we Tax those that aren’t covered by this list? Tax everything, I guess, then it would equal once again. But wait, if everyone were to pay higher taxes instead of a singled-out group of people, then well we’d be right b

dougstech Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 8:34 pm

I would ignore it if one called me stupid. They were stupid for starting and yes, they will pay for it.

Wait4Me Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 8:31 pm

Don’t smoke and yes I know what’s in them lots of bad chemicals. But I ‘m not going to call them stupid or ignorant for making a bad choice, I suppose you’ve never done that either? I believe they made the choice and they will have to deal with it, I made some bad choices in life also, but I really don’t want hypocrites to call me stupid.

dougstech Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 8:05 pm

Wait4Me, no I honestly don’t do anything like that…but you cant compare that to smoking. Do you know what is actually in a cigarette?

Wait4Me Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 7:58 pm

You dont do anything that could kill you, drink, smoke, eat greasy foods, to much salt, sugar, or hobbies that could kill you? Then it would stand to reason yuo are stupid also, right?

dougstech Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 7:53 pm

Wait4Me, someone who is killing them self and is fully aware of it…is that not stupid?

rosepetal Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 5:00 pm

dougstech, i hope every adult in alabama starts smoking or we could end up like illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn confirmed Friday that he plans to raise taxes on some Illinois residents to combat deficits in a difficult state budget, and called for broader tax reform.

Quinn said Friday that he plans to hike taxes for families that make more than $56,000 a year.

Wait4Me Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 4:28 pm

Doug, to call people stupid or ignorant because they do not choose the same path as you is what we are refering to. Im sure yuo dont have any bad habits that other people disagree with, right?

FastFred Says:

Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Well,I have smoked for many years,due to the recent increase I am officially done,and I am sure there will be many others.Beer will be the next “sin tax” imposed.They have been trying to increase tax on beer for years,but the Brewers have kept them at “Bay”.Our leaders are working against their selves,they are pricing these products out of the reach of the average citizen.Not only will they get less taxes for their programs,but along with hurting these industries will come unemployment,than they will have to pay these people unemployment.