Smokers Stock Up Across State Line

BETHANY, Mo. -- Iowa's recent cigarette sales tax hike has turned out to be a boon for Missouri businesses.

More than two weeks ago, Iowa raised the tax by $1 a pack to $1.36. Missouri's tax is 17 cents per pack. Supporters said the extra tax money would both help pay for health care and cut down on smoking.

It has also resulted in many smokers shopping across the state line for cigarettes.

More and more Iowans are hopping in their cars and burning up roads to Missouri border towns such as South Lineville to stock up on cheap smokes.

"You can sit here on Saturday morning and see carloads come in," said Zach Robinson of Clio. "I mean, they will be four or five cartons a piece."

He said the choice is obvious: either pay $5.30 a pack in Iowa or $3 a pack in Missouri.

Misty Oliver stocked cigarettes Tuesday at the Kwik Zone convenience store just off Interstate 35 in Bethany, Mo.

"What are people saying when they come in? That the legislators are nuts," Oliver said

She said before Iowa's cigarette tax went into effect she sold about 30 cartons daily. Now she sells about 90 cartons a day.

"We normally order about 150 a week and we've been ordering about 800 a week since," she said.

Iowans even want the store's phone number.

Oliver said people are calling ahead to place their cigarette orders so there will be enough when they drive to Kwik Zone.

"A lot of them say they'll never buy cigarettes in Iowa again," she said.

People who cross the state line to buy cigarettes may be breaking the law. According to the Iowa Attorney General's Office, people can only bring two packs of cigarettes into Iowa.