by Marco Angioni II

Created on: March 29, 2008   Last Updated: April 08, 2008

It is imperative that this subject not be looked at in a vacuum. Many unhealthy habits and practices are accompanied by high taxes. One reason for this is that because you are causing yourself a myriad of health problems by engaging in unhealthy activities, you are potentially costing society a lot of money. As such, one way to get this money back is by taxing the thing it is that is causing this economic drain. Therefore, products other than cigarettes (such as alcohol) carry a high tax.

Another reason that cigarettes are taxed is because users of cigarettes are addicted to the same. As such, cigarette smokers are almost assured to go back and purchase the product on a repeated basis. Therefore, the government essentially is taking advantage of a smoker's addiction by making him/her pay more money per purchase. It could be argued that a benevolent reason for this tax exists. That reason is that if the government taxes the product to the extent that it becomes too expensive for people to purchase, less and less people will smoke. However, such a theory is in conflict with the fact that cigarettes are not illegal and as such, if taxed too heavily, the government may be unlawfully interfering with a legal enterprise.

Many smokers believe that because the business and product are legal that such a high tax is unfair. Truthfully, regardless of the fact as to whether such high taxes on cigarettes are fair or unfair, the point is that such taxes are legal. Therefore, if you are a smoker and you are disgruntled by the fact that you have to pay so much per pack for cigarettes you have two choices: (1) continue to smoke and pay the high taxes; or (2) stop smoking. It is that simple.

It is interesting how some people try to justify a government action as being fair or unfair but do not address the legality of such an action. Granted, such a tax on cigarettes is not illegal and therefore, smokers really do not have a leg to stand on. However, policy arguments are sometimes successful. Unfortunately, due to the arguable affects of secondhand smoke, policy arguments fly out the window because an "innocent" bystander's health is at risk every time a smoker lights up a cigarette.

The bottom line is that such high taxes on cigarettes are legal. Therefore, regardless of the convictions of some smokers regarding the unfairness of such a tax, the tax is not going anywhere, and if a smoker chooses to continue to smoke, he/she will be subject to paying it.

Learn more about this author, Marco Angioni II.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.