Smoking ban - hypocrisy?

Question

Not interested in the hysterical "your second-hand smoke is killing me!" arguments. All I want to know is whether, after the smoking ban comes into play, the government still intends to levy taxes on the sale of tobacco products. Surely it's inconsistent and hypocritical to frown so hard on something as being harmful to others and then take money from its sale. Alcohol of course you can still consume at home, in public places and so on, so how come smoking is so discriminated against. Non-smoker here by the way.

Answer 1

The Government are in a difficult position when it comes to smoking.

On the one hand, they have to be *seen* to be condemning smoking to appease the public health lobbies;
On the other hand, they can't afford to have everyone stop; the tax levied on tobacco in the UK over a year could pay the entire NHS budget six times over, and many MPs have lucrative directorships and other interests in tobacco manufacturing/distribution and advertising companies.

So they walk the tightrope; show just enough concern over the health issues, without actually doing anything to seriously reduce the number of smokers...

Answer 2

I think the point is that smoking should be discouraged. The smoking ban discourages it and so does tax on cigarettes. The more tax the government put on cigarettes, the more expensive they become, and the more people are discouraged from buying them and encouraged to stop smoking.

Smoking is discriminated against because it causes health problems which can kill people. Both those who smoke and those who breath in other people's smoke. Alcohol is bad for you if taken in excess, but is actually quite good for you if taken in moderation. A single cigarette is bad for you.

Also, I would like to add that I live in Scotland where the smoking ban has been in force for over a year now, and the vast majority of people consider it a great success. There has been an increase in the number of people who have stopped smoking and a large decrease in smoking related disease.

The ban has actually been of benefit to establishments that sell food and drink as well (pubs, restaurants, cafes e.t.c), since many more non-smokers eat out and have nights in the pub now than they did before the ban. Also most smokers still go, because they can have a quick smoke outside if they want.

The ban in fact, has also been of benefit to smokers in some ways. Smoking outside is of benefit to their health, because even though they are still smoking, they are breathing in fresh air with it, rather than the smoky atmosphere in an enclosed space. Also quite a social culture has grown up around smoking outside pubs, e.t.c, and these days it is seen as a great opportunity to make new friends.

So all in all the smoking ban has been a good thing, and I hope it turns out to be as great a success in England as it has been in Scotland.

Answer 3

Obvious really...

July 1st 2007: The ban goes in, cigarette sales drop though:
a) people forced to smoke less
b) others using it as a reason to finally give up
c) the rest (hopefully) not starting in the first

July 2nd 2007:
Sales figures start to pour in, Gordon Brown and his team calculate losses from nicotine related taxes and prepare for the next budget.

April 1st 2008:
Tax on cigarettes goes up. Any and all shortfall (plus a little extra for good measure) is made up through new stealth taxes (on top of the last 150 such tactics Mr Brown introduced in the past year or so)

As a non-smoker I welcome the ban, but as a realist and a cynical one at that I know all of us - smokers and non-smokers - will end up footing the bill for the changes

Answer 4

Smoker here, by the way! Working on quitting and it is tough.
Since January 1st, 2005, here in Canada there has been a smoking ban in all public places. Yes, the price of cigarettes has met with a significant increase. To purchase a single pack of 25 you can pay anywhere from $11.00 for the 'cheap' brands and $14.00 in the pubs and convenience stores.
There have been extensive studies done with regard to the effects that smoking has on the human body and how much of our health care money is spent on palliative care for people suffering from smoking related diseases. Most of our health care costs could be reduced if people simply quit smoking. I do not want to spend my dying days having an overworked system taking care of me because of a poor lifestyle choice.

Answer 5

You are the first non-smoker that I have seen on here come to realize that us smokers have got a raw deal. At the end of the day the government are making a small fortune on tax revenue from us. If people give up, which is what they are expecting, who is going to foot the bill? Everyone is. I know that I will get knocked for the next statement but what the hell.... We have all heard about the costs to the NHS that smokers are responsible for but I think that we have paid that in full over the years...

Answer 6

As a smoker, i replaced into very pass to awaken this morning and pay attention that smoking in my vehicle - which I do in many cases - is now banned. No observe, no warning. My vehicle isn't a enterprise vehicle, I not often have passengers (and if I do, i don't smoke) and that i don't get rid of my cigarettes out of my window. I even have been smoking longer than I even have been utilising, and that i will particularly locate and gentle-weight a cigarette devoid of taking my eyes off the line - i stumble on it extra distracting attempting to alter the radio station. And in 15 years of smoking whilst utilising, I even have under no circumstances as quickly as dropped a cigarette in my lap. After slightly learn, besides the undeniable fact that, i stumbled on that smoking isn't banned, as such - it extremely is purely against suggestion. in case you're utilising dangerously, committing a utilising offence or in contact in an twist of destiny whilst smoking, then you definitely'll face a extra severe penalty. besides the undeniable fact that, smoking on your vehicle is considered inadvisable particularly than unlawful and a contributary element in case you do something incorrect. So, I shall nonetheless be luckily lights up whilst utilising - that is proper to the only place i will smoke devoid of pissing somebody off those days.

Answer 7

Good points. Truthfully, I don't know what' s driving all this "blame everything on the smokers" mentality. But, I can tell you this, we are most definitely on a slippery slope. This mentality and the de facto criminalization of smoking through the total public banning of it will not end with smokers or the smoking issue. There will be something next.

Answer 8

Possibly but isnt it more down to the antisocial aspect of smoking as a whole?

We pay tax on everything we buy tho, not just cigarettes and alcohol

And the answerer below regarding you stopping smoking if we stop our car fumes and pollutant etc...

Ur telling me u dont ever get a taxi?
U dont use or eat any of the products made by those places?
Now whos being ignorant?

Answer 9

Good question - trouble is the Government don't really want to stop people smoking - that is why they increase the price by just the right piddly amount to keep those hooked on ciggies to continue buying them.

If they lost all that revenue your income tax would have to go up to compensate - personally, I think the tax on ciggies should go to local communities - they can scrap the council tax then.

Answer 10

If our California ciggie tax dollars are for kids and schools, then why are the schools going broke? And for you who scream about my cigarette smoke, I'll make a deal...I'll quit blowing my cig smoke in your faces when you stop choking me with your disgusting car exhaust, your chemical plants and your stinky landfills - and all that bad breath coming from your foul mouths when you open them to scream at me for smoking - which is constantly. I'll take the cig out of my mouth if I can put a gag in yours. Fair is fair.

And to those who talk about second hand smoke killing you off but alcohol does nothing but harm you...youre almost right. They're killing off your brain cells if youre stupid enough not to consider that teenage kid coming home from band practice and smashed by a drunk driver or that little family coming home fom Disneyland being plaowed into by a drunk behind the wheel. Gawd, some people are such damned ignorant little dictators!