I, like many others, struggle with the high cost of tobacco and alcohol products in our local stores. The cheapest price I could find in our areas was a 30-gram pouch of tobacco being sold for an unreasonable $80. This is not just a personal issue, it's one that affects many of us, because these prices are becoming prohibitive.

In the US, federal and state taxes make up an average of 44% of the retail price of cigarettes. Nevertheless, even considering these taxes, our local prices are abnormally high and it's difficult to justify such an approach.

Rising prices not only put a strain on users, but it also leads to a rise in illegal trading of these products, a problem which has been steadily growing. The black market tobacco is disgusting tasting and isn’t even tobacco most of the time. According to the Tax Foundation, illegal tobacco trade in the United States was 8.5% of total sales in 2015, revealing the severity of the issue.

Therefore, we must stand up and demand for fair pricing. It's time for retailers to reconsider their pricing strategies, and ensure that these products are affordable to the masses who use them responsibly. We are not asking for special treatment, simply fair and justified costs that respect consumers' rights and their hard-earned money. Please, sign this petition to take a stand for reasonable pricing of tobacco and alcohol products.