Tobacco sales plummet after tax hike

There is no hard evidence yet available showing whether smokers have been quitting because of the price hike or buying cigarettes out of state or on the Internet.
On some websites, mainstream brands are available for as little as $1.30 a pack, a saving of as much as $6.70 over New York City prices.
On Monday, Nov. 11, New York Senator Charles Schumer held a press conference in which he showed how his 13-year-old daughter was able to buy cigarettes off the Internet without having to verify her age.
Schumer called for legislation to regulate the sale of tobacco through websites. His daughter did not complete the transaction online, he said.