Zig's Theory on Smoking

Thinking about it, the government could wipe out smoking in a generation.

All they have to do is give current smokers a time period to register for a smart card that has to be swiped if you want to purchase cigarettes.

After a certain date, it would become impossible to buy tobacco without the card.

That would enable anyone currently addicted to carry on smoking, but stop anyone who doesn't currently smoke from starting.

Yes it might create a black market for cloned cards, but would there be such a demand for that from a generation that has never smoked ?

Its not like it gives you such a hit that you'd pay a fortune for it, as i'm sure most of us that smoke could vouch for, it gives you a mild buzz until you are addicted & then that buzz wears off & you only smoke the stupid things to ward off the terrible cold turkey.

So why don't the government implement such a system ? After all, they claim smoking related disease costs the NHS millions ?

Because that is tosh, yes it costs a lot to treat smoking related illness, but nothing compared to the lifetime of extra tax that they get from smokers and the probability that they will die just about the time that they should be getting 30 odd years of pension money.

Which other group in society pays £150-200 per month in extra taxes only to be treated like social outcasts by those that don't smoke ?

Your average smoker will pay an extra £91,000 in tax over a lifetime.

Would be interesting to take up this debate with an MP.

 

they will laugh at you

tobacco, petrol and alcohol sales is what keeps the UK coffers full .... tax on these items is very high

take away my tobacco, and I'd go insane

 

I'd just be getting black market smokes then.......

 

I did have a lot to say on this subject, but my internet connection dropped off just as I posted it, so this time I'll keep it brief (for me).

If the government really wanted to discourage people from smoking, they'd apply the tax at the manufacturer instead of the point of sale. That way it would no longer be cheaper for someone to drive all the way to dover, pay to get on a ferry to calais, but the UK made cigs, bring them back again and sell them at a profit. So bootlegging would be reduced and yet still the revenue would roll in.

NHS smoking cessation clinics would meet outside of normal working hours, so that people could actually attend them.

Revenue raised from smoking would be used to subsidise patches, gum etc so that it genuinely is cheaper to give up (I'm getting ready to give up, and it costs about £15 a week for the patches - about the same as I spend on my legally bought hand rolling baccy).

Revenue wouldn't be spent on stupid adverts that only serve to remind us that we smoke, and should therefore go out immediately for a smoke. The number of times I've been chilling on the sofa in front of the TV not even thinking about a smoke, when an ad comes on and says 'you smoke, you're going to die' (or whatever), and I immediately start craving a smoke.

 

I'm the same Clueless. Just chatting here is making me want one.......

Hubby went through that fresh start program and says its much cheaper for patches etc. Think doc will prescribe as well making it cheaper.

 

Exactly

 

Pitchfork rebellion coming up here, smokers are not the new lepers

 

As an ex smoker I tend to agree about the government just using it all as a way of raising revenue.

But I must add, as an "EX" smoker who gave up after 25 yrs I do resent my taxes paying for patches etc, via the NHS.

If you really want to kick the habit you will, if you dont, dont bother trying, it only makes you feel bad once you start again.

If you start something of your own accord you should have the determination to stop of your own accord.

All this so called NHS help to "stop" is just an extension of the "Nanny state".


I'm off to bed now. Nite.

 

As a smoker, I don't want my taxes from tobacco going towards nhs supplied nicotine patches.

I'd rather my taxed earnings were going towards the failed banks so that their top earners could still retire with a golden handshake of £40 million plus.

That would be a lot better use of my tax revenue.

Off to sleep in an un heated caravan with no services now. Hope that makes our top earners feel better about the top tax rate.:yess:

 

I think this applies...

Yes Prime Minister.avi - YouTube

 

If the Gov were to become successful in getting people to give up they would have to get revenue from somewhere else,
They already milk motorists, the only thing left would be the air that we breathe

We are stuffed up here in the North, it costs more for the whitevan man to pop across to Calais, that the cost is not worth the effort :-(

Jack McH

 

That's the whole point, for us smokers at least, they do tax the air we breath

 

I'm under orders to give it up again by my doctor. Easier said than done, as most of us smokers know. Facts state that it is easier to give up heroin than cigarettes as they are more addictive. Not having put that to the test I can't vouch for that. One bad habit is enough!

I would have thought, up and coming generations that are binge drinking (alcohol) are and will be putting more pressure on the NHS than smokers now. There's also the added cost of our police force who have to deal with drunks all over the country at least two nights a week.

Is it the fact that so many have given up smoking that they have taken to alcohol instead?

 

plus non smokers die every day ..nhs cant save us all x

 

I also gave up smoking but 35 years ago, I was smoking 30 a day plus cigars in the pub.

If you realy want to give up then you can, my wife and I burnt 70 fags on the fire one night and I have nver smoked since then, I think there are 2 tricks to giving up
1.. you need to realise that you never do give up, it is 35 years since I smoked but I could have a cigarette in 5 minutes time and then its been 35 years ( and 5 minutes) between fags.

2 .. spend all your cigarette money on treats. Like Ziggy says, you pay £91000. in tax plus the rest, most people smoke their way through the value of a house. Just think of the things you can do with all that money.

By the way, I wouldn't smoke a cigarette now if you paid me £500.00