According to Wikipedia taxes make up 42.5% of the cost of a pack of cigarettes in the US. In New Zealand it is as best I can work it out, around 72% (including

According to Wikipedia taxes make up 42.5% of the cost of a pack of cigarettes in the US. In New Zealand it is as best I can work it out, around 72% (including both excise tax and sale tax). One cigarette costs US$0.96 in New Zealand. Menthol is still allowed. This, along with bans on smoking inside public buildings including restaurants and bars, ban on advertising (they can't even be displayed in stores), and marketing has lead to significant falls in smoking. The downside is there is a growing blackmarket and robberies of convenient stores because they are worth so much and easily converted to cash. (I don't smoke and prices may have changed since I last read about it) Edit: Typo fixed.