What is the percentage of tobacco in cigarettes?

In MA, cig. taxes are $2.51 per pack of 20. Add another $1.10 for Federal Tax. Another 6% for sales tax. All told, over $4.10 goes toward taxes alone.

I purchased a carton at Duty Free in D.C. before a flight to Germany - for $31.00. Divide by 10, that's $3.10 per pack. I pay $9.70 on average for a single pack in MA. If Duty Free is making say 25%, then their cost per carton/pack is $24.00 or $2.40 (probably only $2.00).

At $2.40 cost to an average retailer, and considering the $4.10 in taxes alone, my retailer makes around $3.00 per pack, or a 50% to 60% margin. Retailers like to tell you "its the taxes, the taxes" and for the most part, it is, but don't let them fool you - they make a nice tidy profit as well.

If you smoke, take advantage of international flights, or buy from NC directly - or quit, which is the smartest thing of course. It's really not fair that smokers get crushed by these taxes. If no one bought cigarettes, then the lost revenue for the feds and states would be made up by spreading it to the whole population, not just the 20% who smoke. MA is by far the most ridiculous. Quitting is the best answer.