Illuminati-R-Us

Many years ago I was in the coin-operated amusements field. That includes vending. We ran cigarette machines in local restaurants and bars. We no longer see those, as smoking is no longer allowed in most public places.

I do recall sitting in the shop one day as we updated the credit units in said machines. Cigarettes were going up to 85 cents a pack. We knew eventually the price would rise to a whole dollar. And we were wise, because we knew that NO one would pay a whole dollar for smokes. Nope, not a soul.

Fast forward to today, and cigarette prices are on the signs at Speedway and other places. And from those days back when, I still follow cigarette prices. I have never been a smoker, so it is strictly a professional interest. I noted that the top of the line brand was now selling at $7.10 a pack. OVER seven dollars. People still buy them...

I know right???

I smoked for 33 years. Come next January 20th, I will be smoke free for 14 years. They were around $3.35/pk when I quit. I can't believe where prices have gone since then.

I remember timing things by cigarettes - I lived one cigarette away from work. I remember buying them by the carton at about $20. Nobody buys 'em by the carton anymore.

Oh yes they do, I have stood in line behind people at Speedway buying $65 cartons.

They were about $30 a carton when I quit. Maybe $33. I seem to recall someone telling me recently that they were $12/pk now in Chicago proper.

ETA: From here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... story.html

The Chicago Tribune wrote:The city leads the nation in federal, county, state and city taxes on cigarettes, which now total $7.17 on a pack of cigarettes that cost about $12.

Here they range from around 12 to 17 $CDN per pack.
When I started they were just under $2, when I quit 6 yrs. ago, they were already over $10. I've saved a lot since I quit.

In Germany, we seem to match the lower American range, c. € 6.50 a pack. Here in Spain it is still under 4. Funnily, it can not be sold in supermarkets, only in licensed tobacco shops, but it can be sold by vending machines in bars and restaurants, with no age control or anything.

There was never any way to prevent minors from buying cigarettes from a vending machine other than the diligence of the staff at the places where the machines were located. "Hey, you kids get away from there."

As far as I know we could still have vending machines, except none of the places they would be allow smoking now.

Vaping is a huge thing here, particularly in Dunfermline as it is much cheaper than cigarettes.