What? Panic Buying of cigarettes...

It's strange that some people like smoking that much. Maybe they are just too addicted. As a female, I always wonder why people like smoking, it smells terrible. When people who smoke stand near me, I will try to move farther from him. I really don't like the smell from them. Anyway, smoking is unhealthy, I hope more and more people will give up smoking, it's good for them , and also good for people near them.

Hi Shawkat! Some of my colleagues at work are saying sentiments about this as well. I think that sin tax is one of the good things that happened especially to the non-smokers. I mean, come on, even the smokers would benefit to it. If they at least cut down their smoking, they are actually saving themselves from harm. And of course, they are saving other people from inhaling second hand smoke! It would be hard to stop at an instant but if there is a will, they is a way. And nothing is impossible to a person who really wants to change.

Hiya shavkat, So right too its really hard for some of those people to give up smoking like that even if the price goes up three times they will not feel like giving up so easily. In fact I know people who smoke and now since the ban and all that they are smoking much more than before. Some do give it up but then others start a lot of Girls smoke here a lot because they think it keeps their weight down? Who is going to tell them the contrary if they don´t want to listen?xxx

Thanks for sharing What is this 'sin tax', some new tax on tobacoo products, yes here too every year the price rises, smokers buy lot, but how much one can, there is a limit.

The implementation of sin tax has obviously didn't make an impact on smokers as they have just somehow switched to using a cheaper brand to satisfy their nicotine cravings. So sad that the Filipinos could not make themselves live a healthier lives and what more they can benefit from getting rid of smoking completely if having to spend unnecessary expenses every single day.

same here in mexico. Cigs were like 2.60 per pack. On jan. 1st they went up to 4.00. SOme place charge even 4.25. Glad I dont smoke..

They opt to buy the cheaper one even not their previous brand. The cheaper one before now almost the same price with the previous expensive one. Before, I stick of Marlboro cost 2 pesos but not that cost is for fortune which only 75 cents before. They are now buying fortune instead of Marlboro.

I guess if you have to stock up before the tax hits then you've got a problem. I know that taxing such vices as smoking and drinking are supposed to generate revenue, it often leads to a pull back where some people will smoke or drink the cheaper stuff. Either way, its not good for your health but when you've added drinking and smoking into your daily diet, you don't really care how bad it is just as long as you can still do it.

Sin taxes don't do a lot of good stopping those who already indulge. They are mostly a way to get more money for the government. I don't care if sin tax is 1000% because I don't smoke anymore. I wish it was much higher when I was a kid. It might have prevented me from smoking. Unfortunately the increase in sin taxes was never enough to put a damper on my smoking.

Hello my friend Shavkat Ji, Well, wow! it is another noble way of controlling SINS. We have notyhingh of this kind. May God bless You and have a great time

That is a good news, thanks for sharing. I also agree to all the people here who said that it will benefit both the smokers and non smokers. Smokers may chose to turn out to be non smokers. It is a good move to decrease the carbon dioxide in the environment and I think it will help to reduce the global warming too. So I praise the Philippines govt. to do so.

I don't smoke so it doesn't botter me but a sin tax how did they come up with that name. Sometimes the more they make things harder to get the more people want them.

Yes,I agree with you. When I went home in the province together with my friend, it seems that most stores held it . I think that was hoarding for this year the price will be doubled even tripled and so the profit also will be high for the sellers.My friend who is a chain smoker was really disappointed that time.

well here since my step father is a smoker and some of my relatives here I don't think they are affected since it's only 50% increase and still it is consider cheap so they still consume the same but if from 1 pesos instead of $1.50 they will sell it to 5pesos. For sure that is the time that they will start affect because it is a little bit higher.