Cigarette tax going up a buck

(WTNH) - If you smoke, now may be the time to quit as the tax on cigarettes go up $1 a pack beginning Thursday.

The new tax was part of the state's budget to help close a $8 billion budget gap.

"This is an unfair tax that's affecting only a few people. It's a minority group of smokers that it's affecting," said Robin Vincent, owner of Cigarette Express. "If they wanted to help balance the budget, I would suggest having everybody participate, perhaps raise the sales tax."

The cigarette tax will go from $2 to $3 a pack plus all other tobacco products will increase from 20-percent to 27-percent. That adds up to about $10 more for a carton of cigarettes.

"It's discrimination. I think it's unfair to people who do smoke. You could certainly get other revenue from somewhere else other than just picking on us," said Lou Moreggi of West Haven.

Some studies indicate that for every 10-percent increase, consumption goes down by about five percent. But many smokers we spoke with said they will just sacrifice other things to cover the cost, like switching to a generic brand or rolling their own.

"I'll just make them myself, buy a pipe like I smoked them when I was in college," said Tony Riccitelli of West Haven.

Do you want to quit? Visit www.smokefree.gov/ for tips.