MARLBORO * WINSTON * L&M * CAMEL * PARLIAMENT * KENT

Officials say that before the tax increase went into effect in 2005, there were more than 356.7-million packs of cigarettes sold. ...

Could some Oklahomans be taking a permanent smoke break? State health officials say since the tobacco tax increased in 2005, there's a decrease in cigarette sales. KTEN's Hailee Holliday reports. Officials say that before the tax increase went into effect in 2005, there were more than 356.7-million packs of cigarettes sold. After the increase, the number of packs sold dropped by about 50-million.

Many smokers say it’s hard to afford to smoke now-a-days since cigarettes are so expensive, but some say the increase in cigarette prices are like rising gas prices, people will still buy. Ardmore resident Caleb Garrison says, "I don't think they're slowing down a bit, they're just going to keep buying cause it's a habit." The most common tax on cigarettes is $1.03 for non-tribal stores and an 86-cent tax for tribal stores that have compacts with the state.

Stores along the Oklahoma State Border also have a 6-cent tax stamp that competes with lower tobacco taxes in surrounding states.