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Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Cigarette sales increase despite taxes, ban

Legal cigarette sales in Washington are up, despite a tax increase and a ban on smoking in most public places, state revenue figures show.

In the first three months of the year, 52.5 million packs of legally taxed cigarettes were sold, slightly more than the 52.4 million packs sold in the first quarter of 2005, according to the state Revenue Department. Nine-month figures also increased since the 60-cents-a-pack tax increase took effect in July.

The increase boosted Washington's cigarette tax to more than $2 a pack, the third-highest in the country. Voters followed that by adopting a tough ban on smoking in workplaces, bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, pool halls and most other public accommodations last fall.

The figures may reflect tougher action against Internet sales and compacts with more Indian tribes.

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