US: Pennsylvania''s Cigarette Tax Going up August 1

Source from:  WNEP 08/01/2016

Smokers across Pennsylvania are stocking up before a new cigarette tax hike takes effect Monday.

People we spoke with are relieved that lawmakers were able to pass a timely budget this time, but smokers aren't too thrilled the budget passed partially at their expense.

Mr. B's Tobacco Shop in Carbondale isn't usually open late on Sundays, but this isn't any given Sunday. It's the last Sunday before a cigarette tax hike of one dollar.

So the doors stayed open an extra two hours for a special "Beat the Tax" sale.

"They're angry about the tax, so we're trying to help them as much as we can," said Joe McDonald, store manager of Mr. B's Tobacco Shop.

The new state budget takes the cigarette tax in Pennsylvania from $1.60 a pack up to $2.60 a pack, making it the 10th highest cigarette tax in the nation.

Over at Tobacco Road Smoke Shop in Mayfield, the tax hike is all customers have been talking about.

"Some are aware. Some in the past few days have not been aware, so they'll come in for a pack and get a carton instead," said Susan Wormuth who works at Tobacco Road.

Tracey Sanders came to the area from New York, one of the few remaining states with a higher cigarette tax. So to see Pennsylvania inching closer to draining her wallet makes her rethink the idea of quitting.

"It's too much. It's too much. It's unaffordable. Food is going up. I have to pay the mortgage, pay the bills. It's too much, too much," she said.

Starting October 1, there will also be a 40% tax on e-cigarettes.

"I'm not going to buy the juice at that tax. I'm not going to smoke at that tax. I guess I'll go back to chewing unless that gets taxed also. We'll see," John Labarr of Clarks Summit said.

On top of e-cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, and other products--excluding cigars--will also be taxed starting on October 1. Enditem