2007-01-29 05:09:00 · 23 answers · asked by slim p 2 in Social Science ➔ Economics
neither would help.
banning it is just going to creat a large amount of leakage out of the GDP into the black economy. Besides, the drug usage in Netherland is lower than that of the U.S., go figure.
taxing cigs might reduce the quantity, but only by very very small amount, because we all know the price elasticity of demand in this case is --- inelastic. A pack of cig is 7.35 euros in ireland, and the tobacco companies are still making a roaring profit.
Well, as a smoker, I'd say we just need to discover the health benifit of it ourselves. haha
2007-01-29 06:06:37 · answer #1 · answered by Cici Y 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The problem with smoking is it is addictive so price changes does not have a significant affect on the quantity of cigarettes smoked. Furthermore smoke pollutes the air which is not owned by anyone so compensation from smokers to non smokers is impossible unless the air can allocated to somebody. With a ban the government has said that the air in public places is owned by them and they forbid anyone to pollute it by smoking. Therefore bans are the best method for society but the governments will suffer because they no longer get their taxes.
2007-02-01 23:04:16 · answer #2 · answered by londondogs123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a smoke either, I think it is terrible , liberals scream that the conservatives try to take away peoples right and want them to live by there morals , what a joke ! It is the liberals that lead the movement to make smokers feel like pariahs, can't smoke in public, can't in many places smoke in there homes or on there porch's , talk about taking people's rights! You're correct anything that isn't a liberal idea or yuppie they will tax the daylights out of it as a means to force people to do there will ! maybe it is time to raise taxes on fancy coffee, if it isn't straight coffee add a fat tax to it ! Killer Queen if that is thhe case we should raise taxes on fast foods, deep fried foods,and candy people who make a habit of consuming these products are a health risk as well, heart attack, diabetics, obesity, all had to health care cost as well, lame agruement.
2016-03-29 08:11:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without going into the pros and cons of tobacco, neither banning nor over-taxing cigarettes will force people to quit smoking. Like alcohol during the prohibition era, it will produce criminals out of everyday citizens and produce millions of dollars for criminals who will find ways to import or grow it. The current laws on marijuana and the history of alcohol in the US should tell us that much.
I guess we're just too stupid to think on our own. As a people, we permit the government decide for us every facet of our lives and demand others be mandated to be more "like me".
2007-01-29 06:12:38 · answer #4 · answered by Phil #3 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
cigarettes are heavily taxed already! If all smokers gave up tomorrow the Government would be short of money!
2007-01-29 05:17:52 · answer #5 · answered by Bexs 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doubt the government will ever band cigarettes. Taxing them will let people know that cigarettes aren't commodities... they are luxuries. I'm not a smoker so banning cigarettes would not upset me at all.
2007-01-29 05:13:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with answer immediately above mine, TAX cigarettes
since banning will only lead to contraband and will not stop
smoking! The least of all evils is to continue taxing which, at
least, evens the health budget to quite some extent, and add
a higher tax on alcohol which would be even better, and now
all of you can give me "thumbs down"!
2007-01-29 05:27:59 · answer #7 · answered by Ricky 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Smoking has been a part of our culture for so long that an outright ban wouldn't seem logical. I do agree that tobacco should be heavily taxed, with the moneies collected earmarked for public healthcare and prevention. I would also ban any kind of law suits against the tobacco companies -- people should realise they are responsible for their own actions.
2007-01-29 05:15:08 · answer #8 · answered by stopwar11112 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is not their right to tell others they cannot smoke. Applying higher taxes is wrong.
Let's take it a step further. People get killed each day from someone drinking/driving. How about putting a huge tax on alcohol.
People killing themselves by eating too much, then why not tax all the fatty foods?
see it doesnt make sense.
2007-01-29 08:26:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think people should be allowed to smoke if they want to. It is too late now to try and force people to quit - they should have taken action years ago. I don't think it will make any difference if they put a higher tax on them because people will still pay whatever price for them and as for banning them that will never work because people will be able to buy them from abroad
2007-01-29 05:17:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋