Chicago cigarette tax hike: Cook County tacks on another dollar in tax to every pack

Some cigarette smokers in Illinois are probably suffering from sticker shock.

A new tax tacking on a dollar to every pack of cigarettes kicked in Friday.

Smokers are now paying upwards of 10 to 11 dollars a pack in Cook County, Illinois.

Officials say they hope the high prices will get some folks to quit.

And it appears the plan is already working.
 
"10 dollars or 11 dollars that's like 77 dollars a week if you add that up $144 - $288 a month which gets to be a little expensive," said Bernard Robinson.

The new cigarettes tax is expected to generate about 25-million dollars in revenue.

Those funds will go to the county health system that treats about 300 lung cancer patients each year.