The Friday Intel | 07.17.26: NY's New 75% Nicotine Tax

Send us Fan MailStarting September 1, 2026, New York is extending its 75% wholesale tobacco tax to nicotine pouches like Zyn for the first time, and Westchester County retailers have just 21 days after an August 31 inventory count to pay tax on everything already on their shelves. This week, The Friday Intel breaks down what the tax actually costs at the register, which of Westchester's 933 registered tobacco retailers are affected, how New York's rate compares across the Connecticut and New Jersey borders, and the one detail almost every headline is getting wrong about whether this law touches vapes at all.In This Episode:0:00 — Cold Open0:30 — Intro and Context1:30 — The Data3:45 — The Surprise5:30 — What This Means For You6:30 — CloseSources: NYS Department of Taxation and Finance (tax.ny.gov); Tobacco Reporter; Vaping360; NYS Department of Health Open Data.Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share with a neighbor.Support the showI Live Here Westchester is a production of I Live Here Media.We spotlight the voices, visionaries, and stories that make Westchester County more than just a place to live—it’s a place to belong.Have a guest suggestion or want to partner with us?Email: [email protected]: www.iliveheremedia.comFollow us on Instagram: @iliveheremediaSubscribe, rate, and share to support local storytelling.