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The newly increased tax on cigarettes has many smokers outraged. What was the state of Maine thinking? Easy – they were thinking this would be a great way to generate revenue.
It’s no secret Maine has some of the highest taxes in the United States. Despite these taxes, the state still finds itself deep in the hole. Maine’s income is largely from tourists and the fishing industry, but there has been a serious decline in both of these businesses because of the failing economy. Maine needs to compensate for this loss of income through budget cuts and increased taxes.
The tax increase on tobacco products was genius on the part of Maine lawmakers. My mother is one of the many who smoke two packs a day. If we estimate the price of a pack of cigarettes at $6, she is paying $4,380 every year. Workers across the state are being laid off, and many of these workers smoke. In their time of stress, it is likely the last thing they want to do is quit smoking. As long as the amount of smokers stays about the same, the state is going to make a killing in tobacco sales.
The price increase of tobacco products could even be seen as some sort of anti-smoking campaign created to make people quit. Many smokers swear they will quit because of the tax increase. In reality, the number of smokers probably won’t decrease noticeably. There may be more motivation to quit for those with families and a lesser income, but plenty of people will still be smoking. One of my best friends – who is unemployed – was faced with a decision not too long ago to buy a pack of cigarettes or buy food. Cigarettes won.
Smokers aren’t going to quit smoking. If tobacco was made illegal, without a doubt it would be like the 1920s and prohibition all over again. Smokers know the health risks; they aren’t going to have the revelation one day that a cigarette could kill them. The increase in cigarette prices means smokers are going to light up their Camel, inhale deep, and whine about how much they had to pay for their last pack of butts.
Those of us who don’t smoke are also a casualty of the price increase. We have to listen to all our friends, family members and anyone within a 20-foot radius who smokes complain about how expensive it is. Another tax has made it even more expensive to roll your own cigarettes. We non-smokers can empathize with them – it’s not like we want to listen to them complain all of the time. Then there are those who actually try to quit who are generally unpleasant to be with because of their nicotine withdrawals. To all of you non-smokers, we can pull through the complaints and nicotine fits. Just remember what we’re all gaining from the increased tobacco tax. To all of you smokers, this summer when you’re driving by road repairs, remember those repairs may not have been possible without you.
Anne Chase is a first-year journalism student.
