Lost smokers revenue

[paulos66]

As an ex-smoker I'm now guilty of depriving the govt of tax revenue, what would you increase the tax on in order to make up for the increasing shortfall due to the smoking ban - how about petrol?

[China Doll]

Alcohol?

[bednobs]

cream cakes

[Loosehead]

There is no shortfall, that's a myth put about by smokers to justify their digusting habit. Smokers cost far more than they contribute. They only ever quote the direct NHS figures. The indirect costs are huge and not easily quatifiable but no less real.

[Reverandfunk]

What about the indirect costs of alcohol? At least on par with smoking I would have thought.

Petrol

[Loosehead]

Well done rev, you get the first prize for changing the subject so early! We are talking about smoking! not the other things!

[Reverandfunk]

I said petrol

[leg_end758]

petrol it gives off emissions that contribute towards asthma etc

[China Doll]

I'm not entirely sure that's true Loosehead. Do you know for certain it is? (I'm genuinely asking, not starting a row).

Rev does have a point though. For once....

Also obesity.

However... I'm not sure that you can tax the latter.

[monkeyeyes]

If you drink petrol and then light a cigarette...................I think your drain on the NHS will stop instantly !! :o)

[monkeyeyes]

I forgot to include my train of thought in the last message; but I am entirely confident that most discerning Abers will see how I got there............lol

[Doc Spock]

Loosehead, b0ll0cks.

Appropriate username or what.

�42,000,000 per day. Nothing really.

All smokers should have private free health care and no waiting, after all they have paid handsomely for it.

[paulos66]

Loosehead - I stopped smoking about 3 months ago - so by my very basic calculation I've saved myself about �360 in tax - that's a start of a shortfall, or is that a myth put about by a non-smoker?

[aka pixi]

yeah i would increase the tax on alcohol. I would imagine alcohol related crime costs a fortune to sort out as does alcohol related illnesses and alcohol related A and E admissions. Not to mention the fact that alcoholics if they fill out the forms correctly can get full disability allowances.

[4getmenot]

chocolate

[Doc Spock]

Stick to the favourites, booze, fags and petrol/diesel.

Christ knows how they manage in Gibralter, 70p a packet, �4 a litre of rum.

This country sure knows how to take the pi55.

[jiggy-gb]

Fast food, chewing gum and apply hefty fines for anyone who litters. We'll be a very rich country in no time!

[Doc Spock]

Gay bar entrance admission fees.
Lung cancer, heart attacks, aids, what the heck difference does it make.

[Doc Spock]

Isn't it funny that only certain forms of " anti social" behaviour are deemed acceptable.

[monkeyeyes]

If the stupid b@stards in Whitehall would spend the revenues raised wisely we wouldn't have to have a comparable rise in anything to compensate for lost smoking revenue...........

[rabbitygirl]

Couldn't have put it better myself monkeyeyes!