In article >, RodS > wrote:

> > that's just wrong. you only have to look at the general downward trend of
> > smokers in states that tax tobacco heavily. in addition, while it may not
> > have
> > an immediate effect, there are incremental decreases due to these high
> > costs to
> > deter new smokers. finally, while the higher cost might not deter specific
> > individuals on their own due to that cost, as the disposable income becomes
> > scarcer in "relationships", the pressure is increased on the smoker to quit
> > by
> > the "spouse"
> >
> Not sure where in the world you are but here the market for illegal
> tobacco increases every time they raise the price of tobacco products
> there is no tobacco legally grown in Australia any-more but there is a
> huge black market in illegal products if there is money to be made the
> crooks will do it. shades of Prohibition if the Government tax is too
> high someone will start making or growing it,

seriously doubt if there is much illegal tobacco on the left-coast, but even if
there is, it is more likely that people would rather suffer the misdemeanor of a
public toke than the federal crime of no tax-stamp on their tobacco