Maine storekeepers say customers fuming about high cigarette tax

New Hampshire Union Leader ^ | September 19, 2005 | Glenn Adams

[Past Your Eyes]

Maine storekeepers say customers fuming about high cigarette tax

By GLENN ADAMS Associated Press Writer

HALLOWELL, Maine (AP) -- Taking time out to tend to customers who drift into his tobacco shop on a sunny Monday morning, owner Tom Allen showed little worry about the doubling of Maine's cigarette tax to $2 that just took effect.

"There's no impact on me whatsoever. If anything, it will help because people will stop buying packs and make their own," said Allen, whose Kennebec Tobacco Co. sells bags of loose rolling tobacco as a sideline to its main products, cigars and pipe products.

But farther west toward the New Hampshire border, storekeepers said they were hearing it from customers and seeing the first signs of regulars drifting to the Granite State to buy their smokes. New Hampshire's tax is 80 cents a pack, which makes a carton of cigarettes $12 less in that state than in Maine.

[Past Your Eyes]

I'm no longer a smoker so it doesn't directly affect me. But, as a resident of New Hampshire, I feel sad for the people of Maine. Their governor and legislature seem bound and determined to tax the whole state into oblivion. There is a little store in Conway, NH, just across the line from Fryeburg, ME, that was already doing a land office business from Mainers even before this jump. I can just imagine that their business is going to increase dramatically now.

[evolved_rage]

There is a little store in Conway, NH

Shhhhhh. Or we'll end up with State Smoke Shops here as well.

[Past Your Eyes]

Hey, they come from all around, don't they?! Go to Littleton and look at all the Vermont cars in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Check out the liquor stores down around Salem way. Full of Massachusetts people. And they spend lots of money on other things, too.

LIVE FREE OR DIE!!

[Gay State Conservative]

They can do what we here in the Taxachusetts do in such
cases...go to NH....order over the Internet.

[Past Your Eyes]

Ayup, and thank ye very much! My wife grew up in Massivetaxes, about a mile from the NH line. They did about all of their shopping in Plaistow and Salem, NH.

[Gay State Conservative]

Full of Massachusetts people. And they spend lots of money on other things, too.

Don't forget South Nashua...a straight shot up Route 3... about a half hour from most of Greater Boston (in light traffic).I always get a kick out of the fact that many of the stores there are literally feet away from the Mass border,almost as if NH was taunting Massachusetts :-)

[556x45]

There's a reason for that....when the state is the biggest employer how else are they going to generate operating revenue. The people of ME have the government they deserve.

[montomike]

It will be interesting to see if the "increase" in the tax per pack of death will lead to a decrease in total tax revenues.

Montomike Laffer

[AlaskaErik]

I'm no longer a smoker so it doesn't directly affect me.

Yeah, it does. Remember Martin Niemoeller?

Germany 1930's and 40's

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak out for me.

USA 2000's

First they taxed cigarettes, and I did not speak out--because I was not a smoker:
Then they taxed alcohol, and I did not speak out--because I was not a drinker....

Tobacco and alcohol can only be taxed so much. Eventually, you'll be paying exhorbinant taxes on something to feed the insatiable appetite of big government.

[Past Your Eyes]

almost as if NH was taunting Massachusetts :-)

You're a quick study, ain't ye? Hehhehheh.

I live in the very middle of the state but I still see lots of Mass----s up here stocking up on beer and cigarettes. Seems like we appreciate you folks more than your own state does.

[Past Your Eyes]

Please note that I am NOT from Maine. Also note my use of the word directly.

[shooter223]

been $2.00 a pack in michigan for a while(known locally as the "Jennifer Tax" after Gov. Jennifer Granholm)...a word about internet cigarette sales.......some states (Michigan for sure, I've heard rumors of others) have been getting court orders for customer lists and sending bills for unpaid taxes

[thackney]

its worse than that in Anchorage and some other places

http://tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0267.pdf

[Gay State Conservative]

Seems like we appreciate you folks more than your own state does.

You're probably correct.But there's a potential downside for NH here.If you guys ever get a sales tax,Nashua and Salem (and perhaps other towns as well) become ghost towns overnight.At least when it comes to retail trade.

[556x45]

LOL I recall when the mall in S Nashua was built. They found that a portion of Sears was in MA. They toyed with several options (having no cash registers there) but ultimately modified the building so it was all in NH. At the same time the MA govt. was talking about setting up road blocks and check points to catch people bringing contraband (purchases made in NH) into MA. They wanted to collect taxes on the spot and levy fines too. What a bunch of commies! MA also ran a number of public service announcements which threatened all manner of reprisals for not paying taxes on purchases made in NH.

[JOE43270]

Everyone needs to wake up! The leftists, that I call COMMUNISTS, Have created this mess. I don't care if it is cigarettes, gas, or bridges to no where. The EPA, lawyers, and the leftist like chappaquidick fatz and all his buddies created this mess. People blame President Bush for Katrina, no one realizes that our people in uniform keep the terrorists out of our AMERICA, and alot listen to the mainstream media. This is ONE NATION UNDER GOD. God gave us our RIGHTS and FREEDOMS and the FOUNDING FATHERS put it all in writing. Come on AMERICA let's drill for oil on our ground, start realizing that if you smoke you might get cancer, and tell the legistlature that is our real enemy not President Bush to get to work for us. We need to stop handing out those monthly checkes to people that are saying that they are owed to them. Let them get a job. Find the really destitute and sick Americans that need our help and help them. God Bless America!

[Mr Ramsbotham]

If government were really serious about discouraging tobacco use, they'd do just the opposite of what they're doing now and slap price controls on cigarettes, with a maximum allowable price just below what's needed to make them profitable.

[KateatRFM]

We here in Soviet Canukistan go to New York and buy our cigarettes at the Indian Reservation where they don't have any tax at all. About 90% of the people I know who regularly cross the border are smuggling cigarettes and you can buy them from any guy with a duffle bag. A number of stores advertise "American cigarettes" which means SMUGGLED TAX FREE cigarettes.

Put the price up high enough and you make every housewife a criminal.

[patton]

You pay eighty cents a pack, and you think you live free? What an amazing thing.