Cigarette Prices Puff Up

A federal tax increase on tobacco products doesn't go into effect until April 1, but smokers are already seeing the price of cigarettes increase.

Monday, March 16th 2009, 8:09 pm

By: News 9


By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A federal tax increase on tobacco products doesn't go into effect until April 1, but smokers are already seeing the price of cigarettes increase.

Part of the motivation behind the tax increase is to get people to cut back or even stop smoking altogether. The major tobacco companies have already started charging more for all tobacco products.

"I would love to quit, but it's a hard thing to quit," said smoker Jeff Robison. "I'll see how it goes."

It may be a little easier for Robison and the thousands of other Oklahoma smokers, as the cost of cigarettes has jumped about 62 cents more.

"It's a lot of money for something that shouldn't be taxed that much," Robison said.

At a time when folks are already cutting back, cigarettes may now be on that list.

Smoke shop owner, Jamie Nolen-McElyea, has already taken a hit.

"Not very good for people like me and for people who will continue to smoke," Nolen-McElyea said. "I will have less business."

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has seen an increase in calls.

It averaged about 300 to 500 calls a week, but when cigarette prices went up, they saw the average double.

Tracey Strader, with the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, said price is one of the biggest reasons adults quit smoking. She expects an even bigger impact on the youth.

"For youth, they are starting to experiment or some experiments are going on to becoming regular smokers and sometimes just that little bit of a price increase will really price them right out of the market," Strader said.

Robison is already thinking of the savings.

"I would save a lot of money. I would have a lot of extra money because I do smoke about a pack a day," Robison said.

Smokers could save almost $2,000 a year by quitting and about $1,600 by cutting back to a pack a day.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers free nicotine patches or gum, along with a personalized plan to help people kick the habit.

The hotline number is 1-800-784-8669.

The revenue generated from the tax would pay for uninsured children.

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