Passage Summary: Even if the anti-smoking classes are a bust, the high taxes will work because sales always tank when the price goes up.

Conclusion: The proposed cigarette tax increases will successfully lead to a reduction in smoking.

Reasoning: Data indicates that cigarette sales significantly decrease in cities that implement high taxes on tobacco.

Analysis: The Mayor's argument hinges on the assumption that a drop in local *sales* is the same thing as a drop in *smoking*. To weaken this, we need to find a reason why sales might go down while smoking stays the same. If residents are simply crossing the city line to buy cheaper cigarettes in the next town over, the Mayor's tax hasn't actually stopped anyone from lighting up; it's just moved the transaction elsewhere.