| Smoking just got more expensive for cigarette | | | | of cigarettes in Chicago are simply driving out of the |
| buyers’ in Chicago, Illinois. The increase has shifted | | | | county or ordering their cigarettes from internet |
| sales to wholesale cigarette dealers and tobacco | | | | cigarette stores which sell cigarettes much cheaper. |
| shops in neighboring counties. A cigarette tax increase | | | | While local government officials claim the tax reduces |
| of $1 per pack took effect in Cook County in March. A | | | | smoking, some say the tax is unfairly targeting a |
| single package of cigarettes in the Chicago area is just | | | | population that cannot afford it and simply forces |
| under $5 in cigarette taxes alone. Add the actual cost | | | | smokers to purchase cigarettes online or drive outside |
| of cigarettes to that hefty tax and you have a serious | | | | of Cook County to purchase cigarettes. |
| drain on the average smoker’s budget. However, | | | | Those not interested in kicking the habit are trying to |
| many smokers have decided to travel out of Cook | | | | find creative ways to keep from paying extra taxes |
| County to buy their cigarettes or are simply ordering | | | | they feel are unfair to begin with. “I just buy my |
| their cigarettes online through various internet cigarette | | | | cigarettes wholesale online now” says Joel |
| sellers. Some Indiana cigarette stores have seen a big | | | | Sanchez. Others who live in the Suburbs are making |
| increase in out-of-town business and owners of online | | | | the extra drive to surrounding counties and buying |
| wholesale cigarette stores are also seeing increased | | | | cigarettes. It remains to be seen if the increase in |
| sales to clients in Chicago. Counties surrounding Cook | | | | taxes in Cook County will result in the higher tax |
| County have also seen an increase in business and | | | | collections and reduced smoking the County expects |
| some have even hired additional cigarette sales staff | | | | or if it will simply drive smokers to alternative areas to |
| to handle the increase in traffic. The Cook County tax | | | | shop or over the internet, both of which mean the new |
| on cigarettes took effect in March, meaning a pack of | | | | tax increase equates to no tax at all collected by |
| cigarettes costs $10 more for every carton purchased. | | | | Cook County. |
| Smokers who are now forced to pay $7 for a pack | | | | |