Cigarette Tax Taking a Toll
Cigarettes cost a dollar more a pack, but is that enough to make smokers cut back? The state tax increase took effect July 1st, and it’s already affecting Panhandle residents.
“It went up tremendously,” said Bay County resident Douglas Crosby, “It’s something to pay six dollars for a pack of cigarettes.”
State officials are expected to release their exact numbers from the first month of the tax in the next few days, but Crosby says he’s already noticing the money lost.
“Six dollars a pack, six dollars a day, that’s forty-two dollars a week,” he said, “That’s a lot of money.”
He’s not the only one.
“It’s really putting a dent in everybody’s pocket I think so,” said Anthony Lewis.
Organizations like the American Cancer Society said they had high hopes the tax would encourage smokers to kick the habit. Bay County resident John Huber says he doubts it.
“Personally, I don’t think it’s going to make that much difference,” he said, “I think most people are going to continue to smoke and just pay the extra.”
But in the past month, people are already making adjustments. Many say they’re cutting down or switching to a less-expensive brand. Lewis found a more creative way to cut costs.
“I just only smoke half of one now at a time,” he said, pulling half a cigarette wrapped in a napkin out of his front shirt-pocket. He says he smoked the first half about an hour before.
Either way, smokers say the extra change isn’t going un-noticed.
“I’m thinking about quitting,” said Lewis, “because I just can’t afford it no more.”
State leaders predict the increase will bring an extra $900 million a year; they’ll spend it on Medicaid for smoking-related illnesses. The tax increase is the first in Florida in almost 20 years.
Copyright © 2009 Panhandleparade
