Who would have ever thought it?

[Fade]

He said this.


But he did this.

That one just hit 21% of adults in the US, with a 158% increase in tobacco tax. Nearly all smokers are poor.

And as an added bonus
quote
"The National Association of Tobacco Outlets estimates that the federal tax increase, which applies to several forms of tobacco, will lead to the loss of 117,000 of the industry's 1.2 million jobs"

 

[redrumloa]

Florida is raising state taxes on cigarettes in concert with the new Federal taxes. Prices are going almost overnight from about $3.50 a pack to about $6.00 a pack.

Let's take this to the logical conclusion, since most non-smoking dems will think this is a good thing. People either quit or start buying black market cigs. Tax revenue falls off a cliff. Not only does revenue not go up with the new taxes, they fall off sharply. Time to corn-hole the next sin item, booze. A 12 pack of cheapish beer goes from $9/pack to $20 over night, revenue declines as people go back to drinking bathtub gin and moonshine. What sin next? Fast Food of course. That $6 Big Mac combo just jumped to $15 overnight.

Do you see where this leads? Every step of the way private companies lay off millions of people, while gov keeps growing to control the ever increasing economic crisis they are creating.

 

[Robert]

Florida is raising state taxes on cigarettes in concert with the new Federal taxes. Prices are going almost overnight from about $3.50 a pack to about $6.00 a pack.

Let's take this to the logical conclusion, since most non-smoking dems will think this is a good thing. People either quit or start buying black market cigs. Tax revenue falls off a cliff. Not only does revenue not go up with the new taxes, they fall off sharply. Time to corn-hole the next sin item, booze. A 12 pack of cheapish beer goes from $9/pack to $20 over night, revenue declines as people go back to drinking bathtub gin and moonshine. What sin next? Fast Food of course. That $6 Big Mac combo just jumped to $15 overnight.

Do you see where this leads? Every step of the way private companies lay off millions of people, while gov keeps growing to control the ever increasing economic crisis they are creating.

Whilst there is logic in your hypothesis the trend in the UK would tend to imply that your predictions are unlikely to come true, at least in the short to medium term.
Booze and Fags are taxed more and more every year and, despite some black market stuff coming in, the only thing that has resulted in a significant decrease has been the ban on smoking in indoor, public places.

For example, the price of a pint has more than doubled in the last decade yet people tended to go to the pub as often as ever (the recession and smoking ban have affected figures though).

On top of all that, surely if everyone stops smoking and drinking it will lead to a healthier overall population? (I say this as someone who drinks regularly and occassionally smokes.)

 

[Fade]

These are popping up all over the internet and my local Feed & Seed store has just installed a rack for tobacco seeds.

Perfectly legal; just don't try to sell the tobacco.

I predict a huge rise in "smash and grab" at convenience stores.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

These are popping up all over the internet and my local Feed & Seed store has just installed a rack for tobacco seeds.

Perfectly legal; just don't try to sell the tobacco.

I predict a huge rise in "smash and grab" at convenience stores.

Also people can make their own beer and wine. In Canada our sin taxes are significantly higher than yours. People don't grow their own or brew their own very much though. Most people will just pay the price or use less rather than go to the trouble of becoming self sufficient.

Some do grow pot though as there is no legitimate way to get the stuff, though most will just go to the black market as it's so much easier despite being a touch shady.

 

[metalman]

Let's take this to the logical conclusion, since most non-smoking dems will think this is a good thing. People either quit or start buying black market cigs.

Find an Indian Reservation

Befriend a trucker who can stock you up in cheap states or from indian reservations.

The Canadian example of high cigarette taxes:
it is estimated that nearly one-third of all cigarettes sold in Ontario and Quebec were illicitly tax-free, smuggled off native reserves.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

The Canadian example of high cigarette taxes:
it is estimated that nearly one-third of all cigarettes sold in Ontario and Quebec were illicitly tax-free, smuggled off native reserves.

Yeah, I kind of think of it as a subsidy.

 

[redrumloa]

Find an Indian Reservation

Befriend a trucker who can stock you up in cheap states or from indian reservations.

Yes, actually I am very near the heart of Seminole tribe operations. We have casinos and smokeshops galore. My wife said last week the day before the new taxes took place that there was a line wrapped around several blocks at the most prominent smokeshop. These guys are making a killing! They don't pay the tax at all, but they do raise their prices. They just don't raise their prices quite as much so it is still more attractive than non tribe stores.

Tax revenue will likely nose-dive.

 

[Robert]

Tax revenue will likely nose-dive.

No, as I pointed out above, it most likely won't.

 

[redrumloa]

Tax revenue will likely nose-dive.

No, as I pointed out above, it most likely won't.

You probably don't have legal alternatives like Indian Reservation smoke shops who don't pay any local, state or national tax. Who is going to pay $6-7/pack when they can buy for $3.00-$3.50/pack?

 

[ScapeGoat]

We have fleet loads of continental truckers who flog Baccy & beer cheap though.

 

[Robert]

Tax revenue will likely nose-dive.

No, as I pointed out above, it most likely won't.

You probably don't have legal alternatives like Indian Reservation smoke shops

If you have one of these in every town, you have a point. If they're few and far between then my point stands.

I'm also a little intrigued on your postion regarding taxation/legislation of drugs, e.g. why are some legal and taxed and others outlawed altogether? I suppose that's a question for another thread.