We met William Casey just outside Cheap cigarettes tobacco shop in Springfield smoking a Doral cigarette. When was asked about the cigarette tax increase, Casey puffed than took a breath and complained that he has been smoking Marlboros for 20 years, but with the latest tax increase that went into effect last Wednesday he had to switch to discount Doral in order to deal with unbearable prices. He said his favorite Marlboros currently cost around $8.50, the price at which he could not even look without tears.  

"I do believe that is simply horrible what the government has done to the poor with that increase," said Emma Cargill, another Cheap Smoke shop regular customer that came to buy a carton of Kool. "It’s simply illegal to hurt people’ rights in such a brazen and cruel manner, making them once again feel how poor they are that they even can’t afford a pack of cigarettes."

At the same time anti-smoking advocates are praising the tax increase, stating that it would inevitably force many smokers to give up the habit.

June Cwakie, president for ASH group in Massachusetts declared the ASH group urged smokers to rethink their habit. She said in times of recession when prices for everything have been growing, people try to save money cutting even on food so quitting smoking would be a very wise decision, permitting them to save a lot of money.

The Congress approved the federal tax increase in order to provide funding of health insurance program for uninsured children from low and middle income families.

The $1.01 federal tax coupled with $2.51 Massachusetts state saw prices for cigarettes jump to once unthinkable $8 for a pack of cigarettes, and this price is only for several discount brands as best-selling Marlboros and Camels cost even higher. 

Amanda Sykes, who owns a small convenience store in Boston, said she already heard many customers saying they would give up after the cigarettes they had stocked before April 1, would end. She admitted that when the state tax was increased some people eventually gave up but others returned after a while, complaining they had saved money on first-necessity goods in order to obtain precious puffs.

Sykes also said many customers feel insulted and cheated since recently elected president promised not to tax the poor, thus his promise was broken. She added that she had one elderly customer who even managed to call the Senate representative she voted for and asked him why they decided to tax only cigarettes without taxing alcohol as well.

Cheap Smoke owner LaShawn Carter admitted that prices for all tobacco products jumped back in March as major tobacco companies wanted to collect extra money in revenue for inevitable sale declines. He said initially his customers thought he was joking when he had told them about price increase. He added it was sad but true.

However, according to Public Health Department statistics, The South Coast of Massachusetts is home to thousands smokers. Only in New Bedford almost 28 percent of the adult population is still smoking in comparison to 16.4 percent across the remaining part of the state.

In attempt to improve the statistics, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and several independent health groups initiated a campaign aimed at South Coast smokers to persuade them to give up.  

The campaign provides a physician’s consultation and free packs of nicotine patches for those who wish to give up smoking. Officials said they expect up to 5,000 of potential quitters to sign in for this program.

Yet, despite the relentless efforts of health advocates, enormous prices and strict public smoking, many smokers admitted they are unlikely to give up because puffing helps them to deal with stress caused by recession.

A nationwide survey carried out by the American Legacy Foundation in January showed that 75 percent of smokers said they would keep smoking to distract themselves from problems resulted from economy downfall. Another research showed that 15 percent of former smokers decided to return to their habit because of being constantly stressed. Those who could not afford to smoke favorite cigarettes mainly switched to either discount brands or became customer of tax-free Indian shops.