“7-Eleven Inc. CEO Joe DePinto says that customers are buying fewer six- and 12-packs of beer, choosing instead the better value 18-packs. Stores are making room in cold cases for the bigger packs...Since the 62-cent federal excise tax went into effect April 1, many pack-a-day customers have become pack-every-three-day customers”
Back in college, I had an apartment across the street from a liquor store that would sell you beer by the individual can and also a single cigarette. As you can imagine, the place was quite popular with the local bum and wino population.

could just shop at Wal-Mart
a single cigarette? LOL
I remember when practically every gas station around had beer by the can and single cigarettes for sale at the cash register. The cigarettes were a nickel a piece iirc, and you got one complimentary wooden match along with it.