Military Stores to Raise Tobacco Prices

U.S. military stores will raise tobacco prices Nov. 1 to discourage smoking, the Defense Department announced Friday.

“We are taking this step to enhance our personnel readiness by discouraging smoking and promoting healthier lifestyles,” Assistant Defense Secretary Fred Pang said.

Another official said prices for cartons of generic cigarettes will rise to $8.75 from the present $7.09 in the United States and to $6.30 from the present $3.87 overseas. He said cartons of premium cigarettes will rise to $15.25 from $12.18 in the United States and to $13.35 from $9.24 overseas.

He said that will still be below U.S. supermarket prices of about $17.50 for premium cigarettes and $13.50 for generic cigarettes.