Connecticut's New Smoking Tax

Yep, I used to smoke but gave it up a couple of years ago.  Looking back on it, I don't know what ever possessed me start in the first place!

I do believe that in Wisconsin the tax is around $4.00 a pack.

I don't smoke either, BUT I wonder what happens when (and a big IF) they run the tax so high that people stop buying ... and they have nothing to tax ... where will they get the loot? :)

This state has to get a handle on it's expenses and get real with it's budgets. Too much waste and not enough accountability. Sin taxes are not the way of raising revenue. I smoked years ago and even though I don;t care for it, I do not believe that putting this tax on the people that do smoke is the answer.

I don't smoke, never have except during teenage moments when I was overtaken by aliens. I also don't agree with smoking because of the health hazards.

HOWEVER, what gives the government the right to determine what is worthy of disproportionate taxing? For instance I go to the gym most everyday. So might the government decide since in its opinion I should be walking outside or on a treadmill in my house, that it has the right to tax the heck out of my gym membership?

The real question is when the government decides to disproportionately tax something near and dear to your lifestyle, what then?

I'm getting worked up. I better quit and leave for the gym. Kate

I am with Kate, what is next? What is the tax on alcohol? Just curious... I personally think if sin tax is an ok thing then tax the hell out of alcohol. I better keep my mouth shut too... :D

Okay I just got back from the gym and expected this to be overflowing with comments. Andrea's comment cracks me up!

My husband, non-smoker too who was never even captured by aliens as a teenager, asked rhetorically if our government's goal is to tax cigarettes disproportionately with the end goal of getting people to quit smoking because it is bad for health. If so, why not focus their efforts on outlawing additives that cause the addiction!

We know the answer. The goal is revenue to finance excess spending. They know addictive habits guarantee revenue.

Matt, are you wishing you hadn't asked me what I thought? :) Kate

You make a great point about health care savings Matt, but they really do pack on the 'sin' taxes don't they?

OK, to take it a step further, why aren't they going out to legalize marijuana and tax the heck out of it, too? There are a bunch of possibilities for "sin" taxes (please don't tax chocolate!!)... And Kate, I'm sure they will start taxing us for going to a gym rather than having atreadmill at home, since obviously we would be more healthy wwalking every day at home than driving (and adding pollution to the air by driving) to a gym.  (This as I look at my treadmill that I haven't had time to use in at least three weeks...).  The health insurance people are moving towards rebates for "healthy choices" -- just a reverse tax, right?

Thanks for posting this, Matt!

Matt, I'm not a big fan of government trying to control behavior.  If they reall wanted to, they could make smoking illegal.  But, they are just trying to profit from people's bad habits.

If we have too many people quit smoking, though, what will happen to all those tobacco jobs in North Carolina? Not to mention all the health care jobs for those who do smoke? It's a vicious Catch 22.

I took a puff of a Winston when I was about 8. That was enough for me.

Then when I was 17, I took a puff of a roach. That was enough for me, too.

Hmmmmm. I haven't done anything in 37 years....