While an increase in the Connecticut cigarette tax has not f students, it has, however, caused Hamden businesses to see fire.
The Connecticut cigarette tax was raised from $2 to where it now stands at $3, ranking them fourth in the nation with the highest cigarette tax. The goal to collect revenue, and also to make it more expensive to smoke-which would hopefully have the subsequent effect of having more people stop smoking, or at least not start. Connecticut however collected $5 million more from this tax than they originally anticipated.
"I have to get a job just because of cigarettes," Matt Stark, a junior bio-medical science major said. Stark estimated he spends about $56 a week on cigarettes.
There is still debate about whether higher taxes mean fewer smokers. Martin Looney, a Connecticut state senator and a part-time faculty member at Quinnipiac said he believes there is a correlation.
"The primary goal of increasing the tax was to raise more revenue, but there's also the health incentive," Looney said. "Even if only a small percentage cut back, that's still a public health benefit."
Higher prices are driving consumers to either buy less or quit all together, according to Looney.
Local cigarette retailers have seen a direct cut into their profits since the tax hike.
Jim Mustq, the manager of Krausers on Whitney Ave., reported a 25 percent decline in cigarette sales since the tax was imposed. The lag in cigarette purchases has spilled over into the store's other business, Mustq said.
"It affects it a lot because one time somebody buys cigarettes, they buy other things too," Mustq said.
Alihsan Kiranlioglu, co-owner of Home Town Wine and Liquors in Hamden, estimated that his store took a 15 percent cut in cigarette sales, although cigarette revenue accounts for only 2 to 3 percent of their profits.
Customers, at least at first, tend to favor less expensive brands in order to save money, said Kiranlioglu.
"The first couple of weeks are hard," he said. "After a while, people get used to it. Some people go back to their old brands, some don't."
On Sept. 6, the Hartford Courant reported that the state has collected $5 million more than a projected $99.3 million in extra cigarette sale revenue.
"We certainly did raise additional revenue because the addition to the taxes was significant, but I think you'll find that there will be some incremental reduction in the number of people who smoke," Looney said.
Some smokers continue to smoke despite the tax hike.
"I buy at least four packs a week," said Ryan Dzierzek, a junior marketing major."Usually more, because I buy about three packs on weekends."
Dzierzek estimated that he could spend up to $60 in one week on cigarettes.
"I don't realize it, because I'm buying it in increments," he said.
Junior public relations major Matt Carbone used to spend $30 to $40 on cigarettes per week. Since the tax hike, he has been paying $40 to $50 a week.
"It actually hasn't deterred me because I've been smoking for four years now." Carbone said. "I need cigarettes."
Carbone, a New York native said he is used to paying a high cigarette tax.
"Compared to New York it's nothing," he said.
Cigarette taxes in New York jumped up from $2.75 to $4.35-a $1.60 increase this summer, bringing a pack of cigarettes to $9, as reported by The New York Times. In New York City, a pack can cost close to $11. But that hasn't stopped Stark, another New York native, from smoking either.
"I told myself when it went up, I would quit-I didn't," Stark said.
Those who are willing to pay more for cigarettes don't like the higher price by any means.
"You might smoke less to ration, but you're not gonna have people just go cold turkey," said one senior, who asked to remain anonymous so that his parents wouldn't find out that he smokes. "You can't. It's an addiction. People are gonna smoke. It's just gonna take more money out of their pockets."
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