Cigarette Price Watch has done a recent tally from our sources around the country of Marlboro cigarettes. We're using Marlboro Reds. We're using around 54 sources, spread around the country, rural and urban, east and west.
The average price for a pack of Marlboro Reds is $5.75. The average price in urban areas is much higher, but taking into account all the states in America and all the areas, it's still under the $6 mark.
The average price of other cigarette brands like Camel or Newport are usually similar to Marlboro.
10.13.2009
Taxing Smokers to Pay For America
A lot of people have negative attitudes toward smokers. The government knows that well, so non-smokers don't care about the taxes on cigarettes going through the roof, and smokers can't do much about it.
They want to charge ridiculous prices for tobacco to pay for health care and some new scholarships (and here).
In Chicago, rising cigarette taxes have had the opposite effect, bringing tax revenues down instead of up.
Many smokers in Wisconsin are heading to the Illinois border to buy their smokes, for much less price.
How far will they go? We'll have to wait for 2010, by then, some of the tobacco tax hikes may get taken down. Until then it'll be a rough road.
They want to charge ridiculous prices for tobacco to pay for health care and some new scholarships (and here).
In Chicago, rising cigarette taxes have had the opposite effect, bringing tax revenues down instead of up.
Many smokers in Wisconsin are heading to the Illinois border to buy their smokes, for much less price.
How far will they go? We'll have to wait for 2010, by then, some of the tobacco tax hikes may get taken down. Until then it'll be a rough road.
10.04.2009
Cigarette Alternatives - Cigarette Prices Too Much? Try these instead!
With the average cost of a pack of cigarettes in America at $6.00, buying cigarettes is a big drain on your wallet. There are a number of alternatives to smoking cigarettes, enough that you have many options to choose from.
Alternatives to Cigarette Smoking
E-Cigarettes
Electronic Cigarettes are a newly invented way of smoking. It's usually a battery powered device that looks like a cigarette that you inhale from. You inhale nicotine in a vapor, sometimes with smoke or not, depending on the brand.
Rolling/Making Your Own Cigarettes
Probably the most commonly used cigarette alternative. Buying tobacco and rolling it into rolling papers. Almost all smoke-shops will sell tobacco in pouches, which come with rolling papers, but you can also buy more. Smoking this way will cost about 1/3 of what you spend on cigarettes.
Not only do smoke shops sell tobacco in bags, but many regular places like gas station sell them as well. The taste and feel of smoking cigarettes you rolled yourself is different from premium brand cigarettes, it is certainly an acquired taste. You can order tobacco
There are also very nice brands of quality tobacco that you can buy.
Quitting
Of course, you could always just quit! Quitting smoking can be pretty hard. Nicotine is a very addictive substance. You can either go cold turkey, which means quitting outright with no assistance. Or you could use a number of programs that help you quit.
Smoking Less
Consciously try to smoke less cigarettes per day. Try buying a cigarette case that holds half as many cigarettes as you usually smoke per day, and only smoke the cigarettes in the case.
Slowing lowering the amount of cigarettes is a better option than cutting them in half quickly. Smoke 1 less cigarette a day every week until you get to the amount you'd like to be smoking.
Alternatives to Cigarette Smoking
E-Cigarettes
Electronic Cigarettes are a newly invented way of smoking. It's usually a battery powered device that looks like a cigarette that you inhale from. You inhale nicotine in a vapor, sometimes with smoke or not, depending on the brand.
Rolling/Making Your Own Cigarettes
Probably the most commonly used cigarette alternative. Buying tobacco and rolling it into rolling papers. Almost all smoke-shops will sell tobacco in pouches, which come with rolling papers, but you can also buy more. Smoking this way will cost about 1/3 of what you spend on cigarettes.
Not only do smoke shops sell tobacco in bags, but many regular places like gas station sell them as well. The taste and feel of smoking cigarettes you rolled yourself is different from premium brand cigarettes, it is certainly an acquired taste. You can order tobacco
There are also very nice brands of quality tobacco that you can buy.
Quitting
Of course, you could always just quit! Quitting smoking can be pretty hard. Nicotine is a very addictive substance. You can either go cold turkey, which means quitting outright with no assistance. Or you could use a number of programs that help you quit.
Smoking Less
Consciously try to smoke less cigarettes per day. Try buying a cigarette case that holds half as many cigarettes as you usually smoke per day, and only smoke the cigarettes in the case.
Slowing lowering the amount of cigarettes is a better option than cutting them in half quickly. Smoke 1 less cigarette a day every week until you get to the amount you'd like to be smoking.
9.29.2009
Average price of premium brands of cigarettes, according to poll
On the right side of Cigarette Price Watch, there is a poll where you can vote for the cost of premium brands of cigarettes(Marlboro, Camel etc) in your area. This is a rough gauge of how much cigarettes cost in America right now.
30% - $5.50 - 6.50
24% - $4.50 - 5.50
13% - $7.50 - 8.50
11% - $6.50 - 7.50
A large majority of smokers in America are paying over $5.00 per pack of cigarettes as of early October, 2009.
30% - $5.50 - 6.50
24% - $4.50 - 5.50
13% - $7.50 - 8.50
11% - $6.50 - 7.50
A large majority of smokers in America are paying over $5.00 per pack of cigarettes as of early October, 2009.
9.22.2009
Cigarette price news for late September 2009
Overall, the situation is holding steady. Recent increases in cigarette prices are beginning to have an effect. In most places, cigarette prices are slowly inching up. In the last year, they were increasing rapidly.
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Illinois: Some unfazed by higher cigarette taxes, others try to quit
In response to cigarette prices going up, some are using different tobacco products or using new smoking methods.
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New Jersey: Four men arrested, $280K seized in northern N.J. illegal cigarette sales probe
Buying them cheaper in other states, and selling them illegally in states with higher cigarette taxes.
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Seattle: 7 charged in Seattle contraband cigarette case
Another similar case.
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New York: 21 arrested in untaxed cigarette sting
Cigarette smugglers pulling in 800k a week.
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One result of higher cigarette prices is the rise of smugglers, expect to see more of this in the future.
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Illinois: Some unfazed by higher cigarette taxes, others try to quit
In response to cigarette prices going up, some are using different tobacco products or using new smoking methods.
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New Jersey: Four men arrested, $280K seized in northern N.J. illegal cigarette sales probe
Buying them cheaper in other states, and selling them illegally in states with higher cigarette taxes.
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Seattle: 7 charged in Seattle contraband cigarette case
Another similar case.
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New York: 21 arrested in untaxed cigarette sting
Cigarette smugglers pulling in 800k a week.
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One result of higher cigarette prices is the rise of smugglers, expect to see more of this in the future.
8.27.2009
Cigarette Price News - Late, late August 2009
A lot of bad sounding news, an unsure time for cigarette prices and taxes.
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USA - Budget Negotiators In Accord To Raise Cigarette Tax To $3 A Pack
- Smokers beware.
Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and top Democrats still sharply disagree on many budget issues, but they have reached an accord on the cigarette tax: It needs to go up $1 a pack.
Ireland - WHO urges €2 increase in cigarette prices
- IRELAND SHOULD continue to increase the price of cigarettes to put them out of reach of young people, according to a senior policy adviser to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
US Military - Smoking in the military: An old habit dies hard
- FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — Gen. Douglas MacArthur had his signature corncob pipe. Soldiers got cigarettes in their C-rations during World War II. Even today, America's war on tobacco seems to have largely bypassed the military.
Australia - Alcohol, cigarette prices may rise
- The price of alcohol favoured by teens and problem drinkers could rise, due to a new tax proposed to improve Australians' health.
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USA - Budget Negotiators In Accord To Raise Cigarette Tax To $3 A Pack
- Smokers beware.
Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and top Democrats still sharply disagree on many budget issues, but they have reached an accord on the cigarette tax: It needs to go up $1 a pack.
Ireland - WHO urges €2 increase in cigarette prices
- IRELAND SHOULD continue to increase the price of cigarettes to put them out of reach of young people, according to a senior policy adviser to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
US Military - Smoking in the military: An old habit dies hard
- FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — Gen. Douglas MacArthur had his signature corncob pipe. Soldiers got cigarettes in their C-rations during World War II. Even today, America's war on tobacco seems to have largely bypassed the military.
Australia - Alcohol, cigarette prices may rise
- The price of alcohol favoured by teens and problem drinkers could rise, due to a new tax proposed to improve Australians' health.
8.25.2009
Cigarette Price News - Late August 2009
DIY cigarettes? Some smokers start growing tobacco
Wisconsin: State cigarette tax will jump 75 cents in 10 days
Mississippi: Cig taxes: Impact was as advertised
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Alternatives to cigarettes: Electronic Cigarettes
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As the first link shows, some people have decided to grow their own tobacco. From what I can gather it is legal to grow your own tobacco as long as you don't sell it and only grow it for your own use. It also seems like a lot of trouble to grow tobacco though, much more than growing other plants.
http://www.growtobacco.net/
http://www.howtogrowtobacco.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=grow+tobacco&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10
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Cigarettes costing over $6 for premium brands in most of Western Washington.
Going up steadily around the rest of the country.
Wisconsin: State cigarette tax will jump 75 cents in 10 days
Mississippi: Cig taxes: Impact was as advertised
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Alternatives to cigarettes: Electronic Cigarettes
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As the first link shows, some people have decided to grow their own tobacco. From what I can gather it is legal to grow your own tobacco as long as you don't sell it and only grow it for your own use. It also seems like a lot of trouble to grow tobacco though, much more than growing other plants.
http://www.growtobacco.net/
http://www.howtogrowtobacco.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=grow+tobacco&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10
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Cigarettes costing over $6 for premium brands in most of Western Washington.
Going up steadily around the rest of the country.
8.12.2009
Cigarette Price News for Early-Mid August 2009
News:
Increased crime due to high cigarette prices in Michigan
Native Americans in the northwest want to continue to be able to sell tax-free cigarettes
Cigarette Taxes are bad for everybody
Cigarettes cost over $6 in Florida now
Etc.
The Obama administration is pushing health care reform. The big question is: what effect will that have on smokers? It all depends on what ends up happening. They will surely try to up the cigarette taxes to make smokers quit, as well as to increase their taxes considering the economy.
People will continue looking for alternatives to high cigarette prices, like buying from Indian reservations or smuggling, as a few of those news articles noted. Cigarette prices in big cities like NYC, LA, and some parts of New Jersey are at or over $10.00. It's a situation that can't hold out for long.
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