by Patrick Sills

Created on: September 24, 2008

People still buy cigarettes. While the percentage of adult smokers has declined significantly from that of past decades, there are still an estimated 60 million of us who light up every day. Since we're talking specifically about cigarettes, I suppose you could drop that down to 50-55 million who buy them. After all, some people smoke cigars or pipes.

If the question in this title were to be more explicit in terminology, it could refer to name-brand cigarettes. You know. The familiar makes we've heard all of our lives: Marlboro, Camel, Kool, Salem, Pall Mall, Winston. In this instance, fewer and fewer smokers are buying the premium brands. Why? Because the taxes have escalated into the stratosphere and as a result, smoking these well-known products has become unaffordable for many. It is quite narrow-minded to penalize smokers in this manner. Case in point: If triple-cheeseburgers and French fries were slapped with a "fat tax," I wouldn't say much. Fair is fair. At any rate, those who either are less affluent or simply refuse to pay these ridiculously exorbitant taxes have turned to less-expensive, alternate ways to maintain their habit. Well, okay; addiction, if you so insist.

Generic cigarettes are readily available at a considerable savings over the top brands. I have tried a few of these discount brands and have come to the conclusion that the old saying, "You get what you pay for" shouldn't be taken lightly. Most of these bargain-priced examples taste like those stale cigarettes you occasionally find under recliner chairs that are moved twice a year. But some people like them. What can I say?

An increasing number of smokers are now rolling or making their own cigarettes. Many manufacturers have developed simple machines that pack loose tobacco into pre-made papers with attached filters. I tried this myself on two different occasions, for it is far less costly. However, there is a trade-off: I can't seem to get the hang of packing the tobacco correctly and what results is one properly-made cigarette per every three of four that I attempt to make. On my last try, it took me over an hour to produce ten cigarettes that were decent enough to smoke. Even then, they taste horrible when compared to the premium name brands. Imagine yourself being conditioned to drinking a popular soda-pop such as Pepsi for 30 years and then tasting one of those "store-brand" colas that cost $1.00 for six cans; and you'll get the idea. Again, you get what you pay for.

I therefore insist on the premium name-brands despite ever-increasing prices. So either way you slice it, people still buy cigarettes; whether they are top brands or discounted examples. Even those who make their own as mentioned above are still buying cigarettes, but just in one piece at a time.

And here's a final thought: Since it has been determined that over 50 million U.S. adults still buy cigarettes every day and pay whatever amount the assessed taxes may be, it becomes obvious that they contribute to our nation's economic well-being. Therefore, this segment of the population should be entitled to the same rights and liberties as those who choose to abstain, should they not?

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