That’s what legislatures seem to be trying to find out these days.
Wisconsin has enacted a $1.77 per pack cigarette tax (raising the tax an extra dollar per pack) that goes into effect in January 2008. Believe it or not, that will not make Wisconsin the most expensive state to light up.
The current average in the US per pack is 80 cents, largely due to low rates in southern states.
Curious as to where your state stands? Here are the 2007 rates per pack by state (this is in addition to the existing federal cigarette tax of 39 cents per pack, and local cigarette taxes):
1, New Jersey 2.57
2, Rhode Island 2.46
3, Washington 2.025
4, Arizona 2.00
4, Maine 2.00
4, Michigan 2.00
7, Alaska 1.80
8, Vermont 1.79
9, Montana 1.70
10, Hawaii 1.60
11, Connecticut 1.51
11, Massachusetts 1.51
13, New York 1.50
14, Texas 1.41
15, Pennsylvania 1.35
16, Ohio 1.25
17, Minnesota 1.23
18, Oregon 1.18
19, Oklahoma 1.03
20, Tennessee 1.00
20, Maryland 1.00
20, District of Columbia 1.00
22, Illinois .98
23, New Mexico .91
24, California .87
25, Colorado .84
26, Nevada .80
26, New Hampshire .80
28, Kansas .79
29, Wisconsin .77
30, Utah .695
31, Nebraska .64
32, Wyoming .60
33, Arkansas .59
34, Idaho .57
35, Indiana .555
36, Delaware .55
36, West Virginia .55
38, South Dakota .53
39, North Dakota .44
40, Alabama .425
41, Georgia .37
42, Iowa .36
42, Louisiana .36
44, North Carolina .35
45, Florida .339
46, Kentucky .30
46, Virginia .30
48, Tennessee .20
49, Mississippi .18
50, Missouri .17
51, South Carolina .07 (NOT a typo)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that each 10% bump in cigarette tax would result in a 3-5% decrease in cigarette consumption.
So, just for fun, I thought I’d try a little experiment – understanding that the stats will be skewed. If you’re so inclined, leave behind your state (or country if not a US resident) and whether or not you smoke in the comments… Thanks.
Nonsmoker, PA.
Thanks good post. Minnesota is making it more expensive also.I don’t want to smoke anymore. I quit 2months ago and have saved $760 by doing so. I relate about my quiting in my smoking-and-me blog