NYC moves to raise cost of cigarettes to nation's highest

[Suzanimal]

NEW YORK — It already is the city that never sleeps — and if Mayor Bill de Blasio has his way it will become the city that never smokes.

De Blasio on Wednesday announced a package of proposed bills that would, among other things, raise the base price of a pack of cigarettes from $10.50 to $13, making New York home to the costliest cigarettes in the country. If the legislation passes, it would join an ongoing campaign by the city to get smokers to quit — a campaign that includes a series of jarring public service announcements that show people dealing with amputations, life with no voicebox, or the last stages of life due to cigarette damage..

De Blasio made the announcement at an anti-smoking event Wednesday.

"When it comes to New Yorkers' health, big tobacco is public enemy number one," the mayor said. "Today, we are taking a stand against these companies to not only reduce smoking and tobacco usage in New York City, but also save lives.”

The five-pronged package of proposed bills would:

• Raise the minimum price for all tobacco products.

• Reduce through attrition the number of tobacco retailers.

• Create a retail license for e-cigarettes and cap the number of sellers.

• Require all residential buildings to create a smoking policy and disclose it to current and would-be tenants.

• Ban sales at pharmacies.

The goal of the program would be to reduce the city's more than 900,000 smokers by 160,000 over the next three years. The bills will be reviewed by the City Council's Health Committee on April 27.

But the move also drew attention to another issue in the city — sales of bootleg cigarettes from other states that allow smokers in New York to bypass taxes and buy cigarettes for as little as $7 or $8 a pack. New York State leads the nation when it comes to cigarette smuggling and 55.5% of cigarettes smoked in the state in 2014 came from smuggled sources, according to a study published in January by the non-profit Tax Foundation.

"We resent the fact that the administration and the City Council are trying to attack law-abiding retailers when the real problem is on the streets," said James Calvin, president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...est/100672190/

[Dr.3D]

Sounds like folks will be bringing in their smokes from other places.

I mean, $210.00 per carton. That's $840.00 for four cartons. That is a lot of cash. I think I could buy 4 cartons from another state and put them in my trunk and nobody would be the wiser.

[oyarde]

That will be even higher than Chicago . Amazing . Nobody is going to pay that. They will by them from somewhere else . By the way , what is govt.'s plan to replace all this revenue if everyone did quit like they say they want ? It is not like they are going to cut spending , so what taxes will they increase ?

[jonhowe]

My local Uptown Manhattan bodegas sell out of state cigs, exclusively. $3-5 below the "regulated" price. But most people buy loosies.

[timosman]

Sounds like folks will be bringing in their smokes from other places.

I mean, $210.00 per carton. That's $840.00 for four cartons. That is a lot of cash. I think I could buy 4 cartons from another state and put them in my trunk and nobody would be the wiser.

Be careful. Your cash may run into the asset forfeiture problem.

[oyarde]

My local Uptown Manhattan bodegas sell out of state cigs, exclusively. $3-5 below the "regulated" price. But most people buy loosies.

How much is a loosie ?

[timosman]

How much is a loosie ?

A buck? Buy 2 get one free.

[jonhowe]

How much is a loosie ?

$.50 usually. Black market mark up.

[Suzanimal]

I need to get into the loosie business.

[Jamesiv1]

I need to get into the loosie business.

[Suzanimal]

I might as well. When we drive to Buffalo, my in laws have me bring cartons of cigarettes.

[jonhowe]

I need to get into the loosie business.

[Dr.3D]

I need to get into the loosie business.

Hope you get hazardous duty pay and life insurance.

[Suzanimal]

Hope you get hazardous duty pay and life insurance.

No but my BIL bought my ticket on Maid of the Mist and packed me a shrimp ring (I call them ShrimpO's) for lunch.

[Keith and stuff]

Smokes are most likely to flow out of the #LiveFreeorDie state and into the #Empire state. The state mottos are truth in advertising. It is great that the mayor of NYC wants to help the New Hampshire economy.

[Suzanimal]

Hmmm...that has me rethinking my career in loosies. I don't respond well to being murdered.

[timosman]

Smokes are most likely to flow out of the #LiveFreeorDie state and into the #Empire state. The state mottos are truth in advertising. It is great that the mayor of NYC wants to help the New Hampshire economy.

Keep that in mind next time you visit 7-11. I also have no explanation why Red Bull, despite its price, always looks like it fell off a truck. The shadow economy is alive and well.

[Jamesiv1]

//

[Suzanimal]

//

Is that code for 2 loosies?

If so, that'll be a dollar.

[timosman]

Is that code for 2 loosies?

If so, that'll be a dollar.

Not in NYC.

[oyarde]

Indiana outflow cigarettes go to Chicago . Kentucky outflow cigarettes go to Ohio , Tenn & In . I imagine Tenn outflow goes to Mississippi.

[Suzanimal]

Indiana outflow cigarettes go to Chicago . Kentucky outflow cigarettes go to Ohio , Tenn & In . I imagine Tenn outflow goes to Mississippi.

GA outflow is going to Buffalo, NY. That's probably me.

[oyarde]

GA outflow is going to Buffalo, NY. That's probably me.

I bet most cigarettes in southern Ohio come from KY and many cigarettes in Fla come from Ga. If I was in Buffalo I would check into the Indian Res and see if they sell . Bemus Pierce's stomping grounds.

[Suzanimal]

I bet most cigarettes in southern Ohio come from KY and many cigarettes in Fla come from Ga. If I was in Buffalo I would check into the Indian Res and see if they sell . Bemus Pierce's stomping grounds.

They do but mine are cheaper and the brand they want.

[oyarde]

They do but mine are cheaper and the brand they want.

Yes , I bet they do not have all the brands up there like they would in Atlanta . Good job sticking it to the evil new york tax man

[Suzanimal]

Yes , I bet they do not have all the brands up there like they would in Atlanta . Good job sticking it to the evil new york tax man

I think the only brand on the reservation is American Spirit or something like that. It has an injun mascot on the package.

The stores have all the brands but they run 100.00 a carton. I can buy the same thing here for 40.00 a carton.

[osan]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...est/100672190/

Get in car, drive to Douglaston or other convenient Long Island locale, stock up, drive home, wave middle finger at DeBlasio as you drive past Gracie Mansion.

Problem solved.

[oyarde]

I think the only brand on the reservation is American Spirit or something like that. It has an injun mascot on the package.

The stores have all the brands but they run 100.00 a carton. I can buy the same thing here for 40.00 a carton.

My oldest Grandson's Wife smoked those Spirit cigarettes but I have not tried one . When I quit a couple years ago I was smoking some marlboro red shorts and they were about 50 a carton here and about 40 in Kentucky . Crap , 100 would almost get my electric bill for a month. The ones I smoked were actually about 2 a pack without taxes . That is all the guy who grows it , the company that makes them and the seller split. Then the various govt.'s got abot 3 a pack for doing nothing . I think a carton of tax exempt cigarettes on a military base overseas in the early 80's was around 2.90 .