Maine cigarette sales rise, New Hampshire cigarette sales fall..

August 7, 2010 - PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Cigarette sales are rising in Maine for the first time in more than 20 years, and New Hampshire's higher cigarette taxes may be one reason why.

According to Maine Revenue Services, the number of cigarette tax stamps sold in Maine during the first six months of 2010 is up about 5 percent over a year ago.

Officials say there are a number of factors -- a crackdown on illegal Internet sales, a rise in youth smoking rates and last year's increase in New Hampshire's cigarette tax to $1.78 a pack, only 22 cents a pack less than Maine (cigarette tax stands at $2.00 per pack). With New Hampshire no longer the land of cheap cigarettes, more Mainers may be buying their smokes at home rather than going across the border.

New Hampshire officials say cigarettes sales have fallen since the tax hike.

Reference: Cigarette sales rise in Maine, fall in NH, Tammy Demers, Multimedia Producer, WCSH6.com - Associated Press, 8/7/2010.

New Hampshire - some related news briefs:
New Hampshire - sues 2-retailers that allow customers to roll their own cigarettes..;
New Hampshire - high school students smoking less but smokeless tobacco and cigars use UP..;
New Hampshire - legislation to ban smoking on beaches filed..;
New Hampshire Cigarette Tax Goes Up By 25 Cents A Pack..;
New Hampshire - cigarette tax increase - ON HOLD..;
Massachusetts cigarette tax jumps $1 per pack..;
uly 1, 2007 - as of 7/1/2007 Smokers in five states will take a hit to their wallets as the tax increase..;

Maine - related news briefs:
Maine - light cigarette lawsuit judges ruling sets case back.;
Maine - conference on a class-action lawsuit against the makers of light cigarettes..;
Maine - new law bans smoking in outside dining areas..;
Maine - smoking prohibited at states parks, beaches and historic sites..;
Maine - law banning flavored tobacco products - July 1, 2009..
Maine - illegal to smoke in cars while children present..
Star Scientific gets Maine lawmakers to repeal a ban enacted last September 20, 2007 on the sale of a tobacco lozenge product known as hard snuff..;
Maine - ban on flavored tobacco products..;
Maine Tobacco Tax Hike.

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