Cigarette Tax Increase

The tax on cigarettes is going to increase to $1.01 from the present rate of $.39 on April 1st. The general sentiment is that the tax increase will sway many from buying cigarettes. This has been true in the past.

The cigarette industry is claiming that 170,000 will loose their jobs as a result of the tax increase and consequent decrease in sales.

Doing a simple check on google smoking can do all sorts of mischief in the body.

For men, smoking is now liked to baldness - sources

For women, smoking is associated with causing depression - source

The recession has caused an increase in smoking allegedly due to the increase in stress - source

Personally, I feel the $1.01 tax is too low.

Reuters: Enough of the puff: U.S. tax may cut smoking rates

...These changes will avert about 905,000 smoking-related deaths and save $44.5 billion in healthcare expenses over time...