Time To Hike Tobacco Tax Right Up?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34498831
It seems to be one subject all parties agree on! Well perhaps not UKIP!

[Svejk]

To persuade even more people to get their tobacco from abroad?

[tonyav]

Forest, an organisation that describes itself as the friend of the smoker, said higher taxes would lead to more people buying tobacco abroad or on the black market.


Vote UKIP.

[ToraToraTora]

there's always going to be bootlegging but smokers are so hopelessly addicted that they will still have to pay full price when they can't get their bootlegged supplies.

[tonyav]

There will always be bootleggers,TTT.

[ToraToraTora]

yes tony, I think I said that!

[tonyav]

Yes and you also said,
but smokers are so hopelessly addicted that they will still have to pay full price when they can't get their bootlegged supplies.

[ToraToraTora]

I know smokers who use bootleggers but still have to pay full price when they run out. Anyway, I don't think it will make any difference soon the prices on the continent are fast rising to match our own.

[youngmafbog]

And sugar tax?

With a massive problem in front of us, which will break the NHS, shouldn't we be turning attentions to that?

[ToraToraTora]

yes why not YMB! while we are at it, chewing gum tax, another disgusting habit.

[youngmafbog]

Yes, I'll back that one too.

[dave50]

They pay more in tax than it costs to treat the resulting illnesses so let them get on with it.

[EDDIE51]

^^Just not true dave50 !

[Old_Geezer]

As I understand the tax increases already faster than inflation, it seems unnecessary to me. Here's hoping that within a few generations it becomes a thing of the past.

[EDDIE51]

Cost of smoking 14.5 £ Billion against 9.5 £ Billion in tax and vat revenue
if you read through this
https://fullfact.org/factchecks/does_smoking_cost_as_much_as_it_makes_for_the_treasury-29288

[mikey4444]

Yes, of course. I have been arguing for years that there needs to be a huge hike in tax and duty, not this silly 2% above RPI.

Sad to see that daft old chestnut about "smokers paying more in tax than it costs to treat the resulting illnesses" line is still making the rounds !

[mikey4444]

By the way FOREST isn't a friend to the smoker, whatever its propaganda tries to imply....it is a friend to the tobacco industries, and it directly funded by them.

Up until a few years ago, they even denied that there was a link between smoking and lung cancer, so my advice to anyone is to take a wheelbarrow-load of salt with anything they ever have to say !

[Prudie]

Good-o, we haven't had an anti-smoking thread for at least 10 days.

[tamborine]

Do it & knock out cravings with alcohol