Thank You for Smoking

[TMAN10112]

I don't mind other people smoking, but I don't and never will. as for raising the price of cigarettes, I think that it should only be raised if the money goes to helping people quit, like funding a local support group.

 

[Azeban]

I think increasing the price is the most likely way of getting people to stop. I know my own mother will be able to smoke less and less if the prices increase and overall this is a good thing, whilst people still pay the high prices, its more money for the government and for the ones that quite, a long healthier life for them, less strain on the NHS and a lot less mess for the streets.

Good idea on paper, but I don't think that's the case. Addicts would sacrifice other things before their drug of choice.

 

[joystickjunki3]

the colonies went to war and broke up with england because of taxes exactly like this. LET US SMOKERS SMOKE!

Agreed.

But I I'd like to say that while i believe that if taxes are to be raised so that smokers can pay for the butts to picked up afterwards, then taxes should actually go toward that. I've noticed that even though politicians may say that taxes will help clean the streets, nothing has really been done about it. I smoke, and I know the consequences, and i also believe that owners of establishments should be able to choose if their restaurants/bars/hotels are smoke-free or not, and I'm sick of this discrimination against people who choose to smoke. I thought that western societies said they were for free will. It's bullshit, for the most part.

There is discrimination towards people who smoke because it has a deep impact on society. It smells, it puts strain on the NHS (England of course) and it affects the health of people that don't smoke.
I agree however that establishments should be able to choose whether or not to be smoke free or not.

Let me rephrase: Although I do not believe that smelling bad is a deep impact on society, I do believe that second hand smoke can be a detriment to one's health. That being said, I think that smoking is right that should be made to all people and the benefits or cons should not be exaggerated or lied about (See the South Park episode about anti-smoking ads).

I'll be happy to elaborate my feelings on the matter if you'd wish.

The smelling bad thing was a bit of a second thought but I guess that: "I think that smoking is right that should be made to all people and the benefits or cons should not be exaggerated or lied about (See the South Park episode about anti-smoking ads)." is completely just, there is a great deal of exaggeration and lying involved on both sides of the argument. Also, that is a damn good South Park episode

Sweet, I'm glad we're both on the same page.

 

[Berethond]

Hopefully a price increase will stop my dad smoking- money's tight now- although I'm a little worried that this isn't the best time for his mood to undergo a withdrawal...

But I've been getting freaked out by smoking health risks since forever, so I really hope he lets the habit bite the dust.

Well, I'm sorry about that. It's really hard to quit smoking though, I hear.
I don't care at all about cigarette prices, I will never smoke.

 

[whoops1995]

Is it to discourage smoking? or is it because the state knows that people can't stop smoking and are trying to squeeze as much money as possible out of them? Is it right?

Yes, yes and.... yes.

could you elaborate?

 

[Moosebite]

There are alot of factors that go into the pricing of cigarettes and it varies from state to state. I live in Florida where there are very little taxes on smokes. I buy them by the carton and the most it costs me is less then $30 after sales tax. I know there are state taxes and what not but I do approve of them for the reason of the fact that it creates jobs. And jobs help the economy.

 

[Jark212]

"Sin Taxes" the idea is to tax the crap out of everything "bad" like cigarettes, alachol, porn... without taxes a pack of smokes would cost like $1.50... The State and Federal Government are desperate for money, so these taxes won't be going away.

 

[EeveeElectro]

They're probably trying to deterrent you from smoking, but that's where the money comes from to fund hospitals, so if everyone stopped smoking, the hospitals will be poorly funded.

It costs my mum about £1,000 a year to pay for cigs.
I don't see point in it myself, if I wanted to kill myself I'd put a gun to my head. At least it won't cost any money.

 

[ElephantGuts]

Well I agree that it's cruel to raise prices on something like cigarettes, knowing that the people will pay for them whatever the cost. But overall I think this is ok because it gives smokers another reason to quit and gives non-smokers another reason to not start. It's not really like they're forcing people to pay the prices since you can quit, and if you choose to continue smoking and paying for them then that's your choice. And in the end giving people a reason to not smoke is helping them.

 

[sheic99]

Hmm...this topic is like those gay-ass truth commercials. They make me WANT to start smoking.

Smoke Cigars. They are awesome, taste much better than cigarettes, and CIGARETTE SMOKERS hate the smell of them sometimes, so you can annoy everyone with them. Actually, I just smoke them for the flavor, but the rest is optional...

Smoke hookah because it's "not smoking." Just like using a bong is "not" smoking weed.

 

[DannyDamage]

Non-Smoker, hence, I don't give a shit!

OK, that's unfair, I think that they are trying to stop you killing yourselves.

Hahahahahahahahaha..........hahahahahaha...........ha. *wipes eyes*

Seriously dude? You're buying that? Nice Mr. Government is being my mummy and looking out for me and my health?

Nothing to do with the amount of money they make on cigs? Especially since so many people have stopped smoking now and the NHS brings in less now.

Lastly, it's a good job they stop us all going to the pub and drowning our liver in booze too.....oh wait.

Let smokers smoke. Fascist bastards!

 

[zirnitra]

well here in Britain it's about £6 for a pack of twenty and around the same for 25g of shag tobacco the majority of the price is tax. not content with putting warnings on the packets they now feature pictures of cadavers and tumours and other scary things to put you off. it's not right, I think the argument is that it costs the NHS so much a year...but the money gathered from the tax on tobacco products annually is three times the amount it costs the NHS a year. so it's just nanny state wankerism!


still not as bad as the new adverts that tell you if you exceed three units of alcohol you will die a terrible death or the ones that tell you if you don't test your smoke alarm immediately you will die a terrible death as will your family. or the ones that tell you if you don't wear a seatbelt you'll die a terrible death. or the ones that tell......I could go on and on and on.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Non-Smoker, hence, I don't give a shit!

OK, that's unfair, I think that they are trying to stop you killing yourselves.

Hahahahahahahahaha..........hahahahahaha...........ha. *wipes eyes*

Seriously dude? You're buying that? Nice Mr. Government is being my mummy and looking out for me and my health?

Nothing to do with the amount of money they make on cigs? Especially since so many people have stopped smoking now and the NHS brings in less now.

Lastly, it's a good job they stop us all going to the pub and drowning our liver in booze too.....oh wait.

Let smokers smoke. Fascist bastards!

Hear me out, true, they are trying just to milk you for every penny you have, but the side effect is you can't afford the cigs, hence the odds are you stop. Now, I know they son't care about you, don't remind me. Also, I am FOR the smoking ban, but only because smoke makes my eyes water and I sneeze alot when near cigarette smoke.

 

[Typhusoid]

The governments logic is that people will stop smoking if it costs more, but surveys show that people are more likely to just bankrupt themselves

 

[Bowstring]

I agree that the constant small price rises here in the UK are pointless. Cigarettes, like all addictive products, have a low elasticity of demand, meaning that a change in price has a relatively small effect on the demand for a product. Regular small increases in the price of a pack of cigarettes don't make people give up: they do, however, make more money for the government. Smokers complain about it, but they keep smoking.

If the government was serious about reducing the proportion of people smoking, they would make occasional large increases to tobacco tax. If you increase the price of a pack of cigarettes from five pounds to six pounds fifty, then many people would quit. Put up the price of rolling tobacco in the same way; many people move on to it when straight cigarettes become too expensive. Increase fines for selling smuggled tobacco, as more and more people are buying their tobacco from "some guy down the pub".

Either get serious about controlling tobacco use through tax, or leave people to get on with their habit. But they won't do either, since doing the former would be hugely unpopular with smokers, who still make part a large proportion of the electorate. The latter would remove a revenue stream for the government: one where they can constantly increase taxes without public outcry.

And that is how I spent my last minutes of 2008.

And apologies to the Escapist grammar police for starting my last two sentences with a conjunction.

Three cheers for economics! You're right, cigarettes have a low price elasticity of demand. As smoking is very hard to quit, the government can raise the prices. People have to smoke, so they adapt to the price change. Ergo, the government earns a lot more revenue, due to cigarettes being such a large market.

A large part of the UK's economy comes from the taxation of cigarettes. There's a lot of "smoking kills" adverts on T.V. but this country relies on the revenue acquired by taxing cigarettes.

I think you're wrong about larger increases in price leading to people seeking alternatives though. I believe people would just grin and bear it, due to the addiction, familiarity, and ease of going to the corner shop and buying your favourite brand of cigarette.

 

[Eipok Kruden]

the colonies went to war and broke up with england because of taxes exactly like this. LET US SMOKERS SMOKE!

They didn't have a problem with taxes, they had a problem with being taxed without representation. Having to pay useless tax after useless tax to pay for something they weren't responsible for and they shouldn't have to deal with. The way I see it, taxing cigarettes is a completely understandable thing. I don't see any big deal with it and it's not like you guys can't possible have a say in it.

 

[DannyDamage]

Hear me out, true, they are trying just to milk you for every penny you have, but the side effect is you can't afford the cigs, hence the odds are you stop. Now, I know they son't care about you, don't remind me. Also, I am FOR the smoking ban, but only because smoke makes my eyes water and I sneeze alot when near cigarette smoke.

So because you don't like something, that means other people aren't allowed to do it and that you'll support a nationwide (closing in on world-wide) ban?

There's a word for that, it's called fascism.

I honestly don't see why all the fuddy-duddy types couldn't have just said yes to smoking and non-smoking rooms, not booting the smokers outside. We should just be able to share our public places don't you think.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Hear me out, true, they are trying just to milk you for every penny you have, but the side effect is you can't afford the cigs, hence the odds are you stop. Now, I know they son't care about you, don't remind me. Also, I am FOR the smoking ban, but only because smoke makes my eyes water and I sneeze alot when near cigarette smoke.

So because you don't like something, that means other people aren't allowed to do it and that you'll support a nationwide (closing in on world-wide) ban?

There's a word for that, it's called fascism.

I honestly don't see why all the fuddy-duddy types couldn't have just said yes to smoking and non-smoking rooms, not booting the smokers outside. We should just be able to share our public places don't you think.

I never said I was against smoking rooms, I am for them. I take it you're a smoker.