50 cent tax hike on cigarettes takes effect

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The tax on a pack of cigarettes in Rhode Island is now 50 cents higher.

WPRI-TV reports (https://bit.ly/2w0qV6Q ) the hike takes effect Wednesday, raising the tax on cigarettes from $3.75 to $4.25 a pack.

State lawmakers say the tax increase is aimed at reducing smoking rates as well as bringing in millions of dollars of revenue.

The increase was originally scheduled to take effect Aug. 1 but was delayed by a budget impasse.

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Information from: WPRI-TV, https://www.wpri.com