However, I don't believe the taxes were so great of a percentage then. Guess it didn't occur to the life time politicians at the time they could have the tobacco industry paying for a large amount of their retirement packages.
It wasn't. But in the past 15 years or so, every time the federal or state government needs money, they hit up smokers by raising the cigarette tax. They justify doing so by saying it's not healthy to smoke. Back around 2003, the brand I smoke cost about $2.50 a pack. Now it's $7. There was even a golden period when I could order online. The reservations made imitations of popular brands, and they were quite good. For awhile, I was paying $11.50 a carton. But alas, about ten years ago the Feds made shipping them illegal.
And now I've had enough. I've mostly switched to vaping. At the weekend, I buy one or two packs of the Real Thing, but that's all. And it makes sense to do; I was literally burning money.
What will the politicians do if everyone quits? Where will that revenue come from?
