Hypothetically speaking what would happen if there was to suddenly be a nationwide ban on the tobacco industry

Question

How would it affect the nation as a whole?

And how big of an impact would it have?

Worst case scenario?

Answer 1

Economically speaking, it would be horrific. As much as I hate the industry, they contribut in many areas of our economy that we are not always aware of. Like owning such companies as Kraft, Reynolds, and other companies. Personally, no Mac n Cheese would upset our household!! They also give millions to many different groups, and even put much more back into the economy. With advertising dollars, they keep the costs down for the rest of the businesses that buy print advertising.

The next thing to look at would be the job market. It's not just the suits that work in the cushy offices that are on the payroll of the tobacco companies, but there are farmers, manufacturing plants, distribution centers and stores that actually sell the product. They all would definitely feel the impact. Unemployment would skyrocket.

The final thing you need to look at is your own pocket. They tax the hell out of cigarette sales. Those tax dollars go right back into the community, state and national government. Those dollars keep our sales tax down, and assists with medicare/medicade costs, and pay for some improvements governments do to roads and land. If they don't have the tax dollars of the cigarette sales, it's not like they would go "oh well. Guess we have to find ways to tighten our belts." Nope. They would hike up some other tax, like income tax, or medicare/medicade tax taken out of paychecks for you and I. Not looking pretty so far, is it?

I understand the thought behind the question. I have often imagined the same thing. But it would not look good for us on either end. So why penalize the tobacco companies for offering something to people that they want? They wouldn't be in business if people didn't buy the product. Banning them wouldn't really work. People have to stop buying them voluntarily. Saying "you can't have that" only makes it more appealing. I point to pot and other drugs for that thought. And telling my year old daughter not to touch something all but ensures that she will touch it. It's human nature.

In a perfect world, it might work. But this is not a perfect world.

Answer 2

If people stop smoking, it would hurt the country economically. We tax cigarettes so much that they make up for a lot of the tax, that no one else have to pay. Whenever they talk about not raising taxes, but needing more money, they tax cigarettes. (in fact, its one of the "sin taxes" along with alcohol).

What would happened is that we would find programs either cut, or we have to shell out more money for taxes, to make up for the vacuum the nationwide cigarette band would make.

Answer 3

I'm sure there would be a lot of repercussions, and a lot of angry people. One thing I do know though, the government would be making a lot less money. At least $1.50 per pack of cigarettes goes to the government on average. They are suppose to use this money to keep kids from smoking, but mostly they are using it to fill the deficits.

Answer 4

Look at Marijuana. It has survived prohibition. As did alcohol.

A lot of money that is generated by taxes on tobacco would all go to the black market and we would have gangs selling cigarettes on the streets.

Answer 5

The government (both state and federal) would lose billions in tax revenue, for starters.

10 of thousands of people would be unemployed.

And organized crime would make a fortune on black market cigarettes.

Answer 6

Hundreds of thousands of workers would be out of work. It would send the country into a major recession. It could cause a severe depression.

It would also mean that we had lost our freedom, and Nazis or Communists were in complete control.

Answer 7

Aside from the tax and economic implications already mentioned, I would expect to se a rise in the murder rate as milions of people go cold turkey and lose their minds.

Answer 8

Democrats would have less money to spend on all their pork barrel projects. And the tobacco settlement money that they waste would dry up. Do you think they would let that happen?

Answer 9

The children would no longer have to breathe secondhand smoke.

Answer 10

It would go underground and the mafias would get bigger into it. I don't think we can totally outlaw it or it will go the way of prohibition.