Why are tobacco users always singled out and highly taxed on tobacco?

Question

As smokers we know that tobacco is bad for our health! But we are the ones that are penalized for it! We are the ones that have to pay more for our health insurance and high taxes on tobacco! Instead of more taxes on cigarettes and tobacco why not put taxes on grocery items or raise the alchohol taxes! It not fair to target 1 group! Grocery tax would target everybody and it would be a more fair approach! I live in Indiana where they just put a state wide ban on smoking in businesses and places of employment! They had already spent money on airtight rooms with separate ventilation units and sealed doors! Smokers have been persecuted for a long time! I think that smokers should be able to claim some kind of tax deduction for the extremely high tax rate on tobacco! I WOULD ONLY LIKE SMOKERS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION! THANK YOU

Answer 1

You know what I dont care about the thumbs down. What you smoke is killing you and people around you. You leave yourself open to cancer. This is what additives are allowed to be in cigarettes!

Acetanisole
Acetic Acid
Acetoin
Acetophenone
6-Acetoxydihydrotheaspirane
2-Acetyl-3- Ethylpyrazine
2-Acetyl-5-Methylfuran
Acetylpyrazine
2-Acetylpyridine
3-Acetylpyridine
2-Acetylthiazole
Aconitic Acid
dl-Alanine
Alfalfa Extract
Allspice Extract,Oleoresin, and Oil
Allyl Hexanoate
Allyl Ionone
Almond Bitter Oil
Ambergris Tincture
Ammonia
Ammonium Bicarbonate
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammonium Phosphate Dibasic
Ammonium Sulfide
Amyl Alcohol
Amyl Butyrate
Amyl Formate
Amyl Octanoate
alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde
Amyris Oil
trans-Anethole
Angelica Root Extract, Oil and Seed Oil
Anise
Anise Star, Extract and Oils
Anisyl Acetate
Anisyl Alcohol
Anisyl Formate
Anisyl Phenylacetate
Apple Juice Concentrate, Extract, and Skins
Apricot Extract and Juice Concentrate
1-Arginine
Asafetida Fluid Extract And Oil
Ascorbic Acid
1-Asparagine Monohydrate
1-Aspartic Acid
Balsam Peru and Oil
Basil Oil
Bay Leaf, Oil and Sweet Oil
Beeswax White
Beet Juice Concentrate
Benzaldehyde
Benzaldehyde Glyceryl Acetal
Benzoic Acid, Benzoin
Benzoin Resin
Benzophenone
Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl Benzoate
Benzyl Butyrate
Benzyl Cinnamate
Benzyl Propionate
Benzyl Salicylate
Bergamot Oil
Bisabolene
Black Currant Buds Absolute
Borneol
Bornyl Acetate
Buchu Leaf Oil
1,3-Butanediol
2,3-Butanedione
1-Butanol
2-Butanone
4(2-Butenylidene)-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One
Butter, Butter Esters, and Butter Oil
Butyl Acetate
Butyl Butyrate
Butyl Butyryl Lactate
Butyl Isovalerate
Butyl Phenylacetate
Butyl Undecylenate
3-Butylidenephthalide
Butyric Acid]
Cadinene
Caffeine
Calcium Carbonate
Camphene
Cananga Oil
Capsicum Oleoresin
Caramel Color
Caraway Oil
Carbon Dioxide
Cardamom Oleoresin, Extract, Seed Oil, and Powder
Carob Bean and Extract
beta-Carotene
Carrot Oil
Carvacrol
4-Carvomenthenol
1-Carvone
beta-Caryophyllene
beta-Caryophyllene Oxide
Cascarilla Oil and Bark Extract
Cassia Bark Oil
Cassie Absolute and Oil
Castoreum Extract, Tincture and Absolute
Cedar Leaf Oil
Cedarwood Oil Terpenes and Virginiana
Cedrol
Celery Seed Extract, Solid, Oil, And Oleoresin
Cellulose Fiber
Chamomile Flower Oil And Extract
Chicory Extract
Chocolate
Cinnamaldehyde
Cinnamic Acid
Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Bark Oil, and Extract
Cinnamyl Acetate
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Cinnamyl Cinnamate
Cinnamyl Isovalerate
Cinnamyl Propionate
Citral
Citric Acid
Citronella Oil
dl-Citronellol
Citronellyl Butyrate
itronellyl Isobutyrate
Civet Absolute
Clary Oil
Clover Tops, Red Solid Extract
Cocoa
Cocoa Shells, Extract, Distillate And Powder
Coconut Oil
Coffee
Cognac White and Green Oil
Copaiba Oil
Coriander Extract and Oil
Corn Oil
Corn Silk
Costus Root Oil
Cubeb Oil
Cuminaldehyde
para-Cymene
1-Cysteine

Short-Term Effects
The body’s response to nicotine is immediate — causing short-term increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood flow from the heart. Nicotine also causes arteries to narrow,5 while carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry — two side effects which create an imbalance in the demand for oxygen by the cells and the amount of oxygen the blood is able to supply.6



Long-Term Effects
Smoking can cause chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke, as well as cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder. Smoking is also known to contribute to cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys.

Smokeless tobacco and cigars also have deadly consequences — including lung, larynx, esophageal, and oral cancer.

Answer 2

Many reasons:

1. In the USA, the majority of people are non-smokers (currently). This means that the majority can "stick it" to the minority and get away with it.

2. Tobacco has been documented as something that is very unhealthy. Since health insurance costs are out of control in this country, heavy taxes on tobacco not only raise money but also encourage people to stop smoking or smoke less. Research has show that people are more likely to smoke less with higher taxes than stop all together.

3. You could tax food - but that would hurt America's farmers. What kind of politican would you be if you were in favor of a tax policy that hurt a person's ability to afford food or shelter? This is why we have tax breaks on mortgages and usually don't pay sales tax on food. We could, however, have a "twinkie tax" on all junk food.

Answer 3

I am a former smoker, I hope I still count. First of all, putting high taxes on Groceries is idiotic, people NEED to EAT not SMOKE....but your idea on high taxes on alcohol is actually a good idea. They should target that group too. I think making it more easily available and affordable makes it easier for drunks to obtain. Make it more expensive to people who drink and drive, and hope it keeps them off the streets. There would actually be less drunk driving deaths. Now, tax deductions for smokers is retarded...you want to be paid for smoking....you need to do more homework there if you really think that should be implemented.
After all this, I do support your right to smoke...it is your choice, but if you want to complain about how less affordable it is to smoke...then get a better job to support your habit and stop complaining because other people want to protect their kids. I don't care about your lungs and I hope you get a pack right after reading this and smoke it up. Hell...I would light it for you. You are not being persecuted here, you are not on trial. Grow up a little more.

Answer 4

Smoker's of the World, Unite!!! I am a smoker...and I live in NC, and used to live in Winston-Salem, where RJ Reynolds started...my grandfather was a tobacco farmer, and I worked summers in tobacco to earn money for concerts and other teenage wants....I have been around smokers and tobacco all of my life. There was a time, when the good folks who worked at RJ Reynolds would put stickers on their bills they paid that said "Paid for With Tobacco"...some would not darken a door of an establishment if there was "no smoking"..I TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY AGREE with you...lets tax alcohol (gee...I've never seen a cigarrette cause an accident, but plenty of time, booze is the culprit)...make the ALCOHOLICS pay more for THEIR insurance, and while we're at it, heavily tax fast food (and all the fat people)....why pick on us?????? I have friends who've said "well, the alcohol and fast food doesn't ruin your lungs like cigarrette smoke"...ever sat next to a fat guy eating a burger and drinking a beer??????? And you say MY addition is insulting????
I do not drink to excess or eat to excess, I work full time, raise my family, cook, clean, stay busy and enjoy life...if I want to do it with a cigarrette in my hand YOU have no right to say anything to me...unless YOU'RE ready to put down that burger and beer....
What if someone told you that eating chocolate in public was to be banned.....what would you say then?
Acccccckkkkk......
I hand my soapbox back to you...

Answer 5

Same reason taxes are higher on alcohol and gambling. The government knows these vices are highly fed and are cash cows. If everybody quit smoking the government would have a tough time replacing that funding. Then someone or something else would be the target. Just think of gasoline taxes. They are insane.

Answer 6

I've recently quit, but it isn't the first time, so I think I can chime in here (I'm chewing tobacco right now).
As someone up there already pointed out, everyone pays higher insurance becaues of vices like ours that make health insurance companies have to pay more. I'm not sure exactly where the sin taxes go, but I'm assuming that since its such a huge amount of money, some of it goes to preventing or even treating addiction. Where else to get that money, but from the people who are addicted already?
But you're right, they should tax other things too, like fast food. Or at the least reward people who eat right and take care of themselves. Exactly how they would do that I don't know, but they should try.

Answer 7

the worst is when they make the people vote on a tax increase but we dont vote on the ordinance to make places smoke free. the tax in colorado is so stupid. it helps fund the childrens health network but after it passed they divided up the money a different way. and smokers voted for it so it would help them quit. so stupid. so very stupid.
but basically its a sin tax on a addicting product so you are pretty much guaranteed to make the tax because no one will quit. slick if you dont smoke and get to spend tax money on stuff. plus now smoking is considered bad. its bad for you and its bad for others around you. just a way to "punish" a bad habit and to gain votes.

Answer 8

Why shouldn't you be penalised for it? Of course your health insurance is going to be higher, you have a better chance of getting ill!! The insurance companies wouldn't make any money would they? Grocery items? Really? And you might be right about the alchohol, but then I don't drink either.

Answer 9

You're wrong. EVERYONE pays higher health insurance costs because so many people have smoking related illnesses. Second hand smoke hurts other people, especially those who live with a smoker. You cannot claim to be persecuted for something you choose to do--if you're willing to kill yourself that way, you should be willing to pay for the privilege.
( What's the point of asking only smokers to answer this question. They are likely to agree with you, and then what have you learned?)

Answer 10

I would think because of the long hisotry smokers have in this country (the US) we now havea law in Ohio you can't smoke in a public place, or in the door ways at work or another building, and you also can't smoke in bars... that's just what we have going on here..hope it helped??!