LOL, do they not know that we find alteratives to TAXES.
Boy these people are stupid.
The most overlooked factor is the medical reprocussions of smoking. Consider big government's definition of the percentage of smokers who die of cancer (some 30%) and realize this sector includes any form of the disease (liver, cervical, bone, prostate, skin...) which may not have any relationship to the habit. Those who do in fact die from cancer which is actually related to smoking are well below 10% - consider the tab the remainder of you are picking-up! And most of them live beyond 60 years.
Even for those in that small group who are inducing carcinogenic effects, consider other health problems they might have, related medications which are irritating, and the soothing effects of smoking - it's often in their best interest to continue the habit.
Big government is simply lying.