Wagner,

I think you have to re-read my posts. As a former smoker, I'm not a hypocrite. I do believe in people's rights to smoke. But it is a luxury, not a necessity. It is also a public health nuisance.

Making cigarettes cheaper certainly is not going to influence people to cut or quit smoking.

And while alcohol vs. tobacco argument, the lesser of the two evils, they both have their evils, for sure. But I know plenty of casual drinkers, don't know any casual smokers. You either smoke or you don't. And the whole industry is predicated on the addiction. Whereas with alcohol, you don't need to be addicted to enjoy it.

With tobacco, it's the satisfaction of the addiction that derives the pleasure.

Truth is, I don't smoke tobacco anymore, I don't drink alcohol but on occasion and I don't smoke weed anymore either. But I do think that all of them should be heavily taxed (and of course legalized). If not just to pay for the health crisis the particular product is responsible for.

I don't expect taxing to remove the product of tobacco, but it certainly is a deterrent. I know that I enjoy the extra $2k-$3k a year that I don't spend on cigarettes anymore.

I don't want to remove tobacco all together. There are people that love it. god knows, I loved my smoking. But with cost increases also comes the rationality "why am I spending money on these stupid things?" I have lots of friends that quit when I lived in New York and cigs went from $4 a pack to $8.50.. Did everyone quit? NO. But many did.

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