Quote Originally Posted by bigwhiteash View Post
It's just another expense in a basically expensive lifestyle.. Once the sticker shock of the additional costs fades, things will be back to "normal". I already do quite extensive comparison shopping before a box purchase, as I'm sure most do... 15 to 20 dollars isn't really going to deter me all that much. I guess what it will hurt the most is the everyday cigars in the 3 to 5 dollar range.. I'm not going to like paying more than $100.00 for a box of Chateau Fuente Sun Grown.


What bothers me most is the ease with which this bill was passed, and the surety that there will be others lining up behind it.
Yup. You have to realize that money for children's health care or whatever has relatively little to do with the tax increases - it is all about forcing people to cut down on, or quit, tobacco use. Raising prices is one of the most effective ways to accomplish that. The target is cigarettes, but, for effective tobacco control, one wants to raise prices of cigars enough so that cigarette smokers won't migrate to cigars in large numbers. That's why little cigars and drugstore cigars are getting (relatively) nailed. You, Mr. White Owl smoker , are being targeted.