Cigarette costs would undoubtedly make smokers healthier. There is lots of evidence that smoking is extremely harmful to one's health, and almost as much evidence that individuals smoke less cigarettes when they are more expensive. However, "healthy smokers" are not the same as "happy smokers." Being able to afford cigarettes means needing them be safe to consume at least some of the time. If they are not, then an expensive purchase could actually be detrimental to your health. The first thing you should know about cigarette prices is that they are very low right now. The federal government taxes a pack of 20 cigarettes at $1.01 per pack, which is below the cost of production. In addition, most states tax cigarettes further increasing their price. Thus, even inexpensive brands such as Kool or Marlboro will likely never be cheaper anywhere in the world. However, this situation may change soon because several countries including Canada and Australia have announced plans to introduce plain packaging. Under these programs, all cigarettes would look the same, taste the same, and only differ by brand name would be visible. This would make them easier for minors to access, while also making cigarettes less attractive to adults who might otherwise quit smoking. Of course, since the main purpose of branding products is to create demand, this reduction in choice might not be good for smokers' health.