75% Tobacco Tax In Montreal- Not Enough?????????

[EagerBeaver]

This weekend I came to Montreal with an American friend who is a cigar aficionado with a taste for Cuban cigars. He bought several Cuban cigars while we were in Montreal and he was shocked by the fact that there is a 75% tax on tobacco, yet it does not seem to be putting a dent on sales. He bought a medium range cigar for about $22 at some place on Sherbrooke near Crescent called La Casa del Habano, and then he bought a $35 cigar at another cigar shop on St. Catherine near Crescent. He was very surprised that the 75% tobacco tax does not seem to be working as evidenced by the stock of cigars at these two shops which was significant.

 

[EagerBeaver]

CR,

This is exactly what my friend said. He said with this level of taxation there has to be a black market for cigars in Montreal and he was wondering where that market exists.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

Cigarettes are still cheap in Quebec, around $5.55 for 20 and $7.85 for 25 ( I think, do not smoke ) . In Alberta a pack of 25 will cost you $11.00 +

 

[Doc Holliday]

The best place to buy cheap smokes is to go to the Oka area. The natives have this black market thing going on very efficiently and any chain-smoker wills ave a bundle by dealing directly with them instead of throwing your hard-earned money around in a convenience store and supply Pauline Marois & Stephen Harper's coffers even more.

 

[OXO]

Cigars are considered to be a luxury item, people smoke them because society tells them it is a cool thing to do. Mostly because it was something that the rich were able to do in the past. If jelly beans were taxed at 75%, it would disappear off the market fast because it is not considered cool.

 

[joelcairo]

If jelly beans were taxed at 75%, it would disappear off the market fast because it is not considered cool.

True - the Reagan years are long gone.

 

[GoldfingR]

Throughout the years you have probably heard people say when it hits $5 a pack I will quit, then $6 a pack, then $7 a pack.............................................. but they never do.
No matter how expensive it is, there will always be smokers.