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A pack of cigarettes in New York City now costs $11

Where there's smoke, there's taxes -- especially for New Yorkers. In an emergency budget move officials say will generate $440 million in revenue, the state legislature just passed a bill that gives New York the highest cigarette taxes in the country. Starting July 1, every pack sold in the state will cost an extra $1.60, raising the total state tax to $4.35 and pushing the average cost of a pack up to $9.20. For New York City residents, the cost of a pack will now come out to close to $11 -- a $2 rise from just over a year ago.

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The state will also start making attempts to collect taxes from cigarettes sold on Indian reservations, a controversial move which could encourage more Native American groups to manufacture their own brands of tax-free cigarettes.

More: Cigarettes can no longer be 'light' or 'mild', but can still be color-coded

The $440 million in revenue will benefit health care programs, AIDS drugs subsidies, tobacco cessation programs and $71.6 million will go to the state cancer research center in Buffalo. Supporters also laud the health benefits, saying it will reduce the number of smokers by tens of thousands of people.

Native American tribes of New York consider the collection plan highly volatile. Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. J.C. Seneca is calling the move "a deliberate effort to sabotage our federal treaty rights." J.C. Seneca, another Seneca leader, says it represents "an act of war" between the state and Indian tribes. New York has been trying to collect cigarette taxes from Native American tribes since the early 1990s.

New Yorkers who refuse to quit smoking can expect heavy long-term costs. Under current taxes, a smoking habit can cost a New York City resident up to $6,000 over two years.

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Freeme's picture
Freeme - Sep 21, 2011

Totally agree with all the smokers here. There are many 'reasons' older people die these days and smoking 'causes' are not IT. I know people who smoked a pack or more a day that lived into their eighties and nineties, so what does that say about 'SCIENCE'?

WHAT IF ALL THE ALCOHOL DRINKERS WERE TAXED LIKE THAT?
WE COULD PAY OFF ALL KINDS OF STATE AND FED TAXES, AS THERE ARE MANY MORE OF THEM!!!

OldsVistaCruiser's picture
OldsVistaCruiser - Sep 11, 2011

I was in Virginia in August 2011. The Sheetz gas station just off of I-81 had Marlboros for $4.05/pack plus 5% VA sales tax. That's cheaper than the bargain brands in PA!

Vryyk's picture
Vryyk - Aug 22, 2011

Jesus Christ, 11 bucks a pack? I'm glad they don't tax pipe tobacco like they do cigs, but this is an infringment on personal choice.

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous - Dec 22, 2010

Just one more thing that makes NY a great. Place.I'm so glad I moved to south Carolina in 06. 4$ for a pack of smokes here....come on down yall

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous - Dec 22, 2010

Just one more thing that makes NY a great. Place.I'm so glad I moved to south Carolina in 06. 4$ for a pack of smokes here....come on down yall

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous - Feb 17, 2011

i moved to north North Carolina and at Walgreen's it cost $3.59 for Marlboro 72s and newports are the average of $5.00. If you live in Newyork might as well quit smoking.

whatthe's picture
whatthe - Mar 19, 2011

Well, I just question why would they (government, state local national) stop at 11 dollars a pack in NYC, or anywhere else for that matter? I say raise the average price per pack nationwide to 20 bucks a pack, why not. We could raise a ton of money to balance the budget! Most smokers will just suck it up (no pun intended) and pay the piper. Smoking is a right and provides enjoyment to millions. To me it is like any other luxury in life it comes at a premium. Most of our intellectuals (college professors, gov't leaders)smoke. Heck our president BHO smokes like a truck along with the speaker of the house. Smoking is part of the American experience for goodness sakes. Just tax tax and tax. I don't smoke so its all good!

rick's picture
rick - May 21, 2011

Everyone quite naggin its an aduls god givin right to smoke just like u vote or enjoy eating out should we take hamburgers to $20 each or start charging to vote? People die every minute from bad choices they make so why just punish smokers???

INGRID's picture
INGRID - Jun 16, 2011

Basically, we have now a very healthy black market of selling smokes. Thank you for raising taxes, now people get the smokes CHEAPER! Prohibition? Higher prices? Black market will ALWAYS emerge, people are not stupid or submissive, psychology 101, and will always get what they want even if it's illegal.

rick's picture
rick - May 21, 2011

Everyone quite naggin its an aduls god givin right to smoke just like u vote or enjoy eating out should we take hamburgers to $20 each or start charging to vote? People die every minute from bad choices they make so why just punish smokers???

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