5 ms·

How much are we talking? Is this pre or post taxes? Cigarettes are super cheap pre-taxes, but post-taxes they can be extremely expensive, especially in places l

• triceratops 6y ago
  Are there a lot of armed robberies committed by smokers in NYC because they can't afford cigarettes? They might buy from bootleggers if they can't afford the fully-taxed cigs. That's a crime too, obviously, but somewhat less serious than armed robbery.
  • umvi 6y ago
    > Are there a lot of armed robberies committed by smokers in NYC because they can't afford cigarettes? I can't really quantify "a lot" or whether the thieves were smokers that couldn't afford them, but it's clearly happening. Here are some armed robberies from 2020 in NYC that involved stealing cigarettes at gunpoint: [0][1][2] > They might buy from bootleggers if they can't afford the fully-taxed cigs I would guess this is the preferable option to robbing stores, but if you literally have no money, even bootleg cigarettes are off the table. [0] https://abc7ny.com/armed-suspect-pulls-out-gun-steals-cigarettes-from-nyc-deli/6361585/ https://abc7ny.com/armed-suspect-pulls-out-gun-steals-cigare... [1] https://nypost.com/2020/02/18/robber-armed-with-rifle-hits-nyc-smoke-shop-video-shows/ https://nypost.com/2020/02/18/robber-armed-with-rifle-hits-n... [2] https://patch.com/new-york/parkslope/man-robs-nyc-7-elevens-gunpoint-cash-cigarettes-cops https://patch.com/new-york/parkslope/man-robs-nyc-7-elevens-...
• JulianMorrison 6y ago
  Heroin is a simple chemical readily extractable from an agricultural crop. I wouldn't expect the base price to be higher than vitamin supplements. Of course how high that's pushed by sin taxes is a matter for legislatures.