Midland Shops go illegal in an attempt to help frustrated clients
A brand-new tendency has recently captured Midland cigarettes shops, as their owners claim that they have found an effective tool to help smokers who either can not afford cigarettes after the federal tax increase came into effect, or simply want to give up smoking gradually.
On the other part, police and Michigan officials claim this practice illegal and promise to put an end to it.
Curious to know more about this tendency that caused so much commotion across the little city of Midland? Well, we can tell you – it is single cigarettes sales.
According to Midland Daily News reporter, in three of six visited stores single cigarettes are distributed for around 50 cents each. The box with unpacked cigarettes of various brands was standing next to the cash registers. Also, there was a notice on the box saying that the cigarettes cost 45 cents without tax.
Convenience store owners stated that they decided to sell single cigarettes in order to help their regular customers who have been in despair since the largest ever tax hike came into effect on April 1. Store owners believe that it would help customers to quit smoking gradually or get used to smoke fewer cigarettes each day since they could not afford to pay $7 for a pack of smokes anymore.
“I used to smoke as much cigarettes as I have in my car, I bought one pack for each day,” admitted Ken Dowgall, when buying three cigarettes for $1.25 on Wednesday. "But with the recent price increase it is better for me to buy single cigs and smoke them when I need them the most."
However, in accordance with the Michigan State Police Department, selling unpacked or single cigarettes is regarded as a misdemeanor and any person caught at selling such cigarettes would be sentenced to pay a $500 fine.
Opponents of aforementioned regulation state that it backs cigarette industry instead of simple customers since in case the smoker tries to give up gradually, he is unable to do it because he has to buy the whole pack of cigarettes and thus he is encouraged to smoke further, making it a vicious circle.
Many local store managers and even Michigan officials admit that single cigarettes have been in sale for decades in neighboring Saginaw, despite all restrictions and bans Saginaw shops have been selling them under the counter.
"I think that the majority of Saginaw convenience stores sell single sticks, but they do it under the counter, because single cigarettes are in huge demand," said Tim Hutchkiss, manager of several convenience stores in both Midland in Saginaw. "However, it is a violation of state laws, and thus, illegal," he added.
“This practice is not legal, and we currently are forming a tobacco enforcement group that would track all the stores selling cigarettes and fine people caught at selling single cigarettes,” stated James Benson Jr. of Midland Police.
Meanwhile, owners of those stores that initiated sales of single cigarettes say that this tendency reached Midland because of the deepening recession and price hike. Namely these reasons affected many smokers, forcing them to cut the number of smoked cigarettes or even give up, and, therefore, providing single cigarettes to become such a demanded product.
"Many people come to our shop and ask us to sell two or three cigarettes," admitted Kristy Davies, owner of Davies Come & Take store. "I believe it could help many people that have such a difficult time since they could not afford to buy entire packs of cigarettes as they were used to."
