But economists who have studied how retail prices affect smoking behavior also caution that once taxes get far enough out of whack among states, basic economic incentives almost guarantee a thriving black marketand, eventually, an arms race between enforcement and motivated cigarette traffickers
From the point of view of most smokers, smuggled cigarettes, which generally cost between $20 and $30, are preferable to the alternative: counterfeit cigarettes, which generally cost between $6 and $15
Its also more than double the entire tax gap from beer and spirits combined
Police target the organised crime syndicates running the trade but rarely shut down the retailers selling the cigarettes
For example, the Blue Pure lacks a display to indicate air quality, sensors for automatic adjustment, a timer and scheduling capabilities