In New York, there is such a thing as a little cigar. It is basically a juxtaposition of cigars and cigarettes. Little cigars look just like cigarettes but they differ in the wrapping, which is brown paper. Furthermore, the content of little cigars are partially tobacco.
So what makes little cigars special? Well, in New York, little cigars are not taxed in the same way that cigarettes are. The biggest implication of this fact is that the price of little cigars is considerably less than the price of regular cigarettes. This could very well be one of the major reasons behind people smoking little cigars.
With the new legislation that has been put in place, however, savings made from smoking little cigars instead of cigarettes are soon to disappear. Starting the 3rd of June, little cigars are no longer to be classified as being different from the ordinary cigarette. That means one thing – they will be taxed in the same way as cigarettes. People who smoke little cigars will then have to pay a much higher price for their little buddies.
To make things worse, New York is also upping the tax on regular cigarettes. This will also start on June 3. So, from $1.50 a pack, it will become $2.75 a pack. The price of little cigars will play around that amount as well.
I see two things happening here. One, smoking will lessen. Two, little cigar smuggling will increase. Which one will prevail? Only time will tell.