Revenue from smoking

[Englishbird]

I have wondered this for a while, according to a website promoting stopping smoking, The UK government earned �8,055 million (�8 bn) in revenue from tobacco duty and VAT in 2002-2003. the high end estimate is that smokers cost the nhs �1.7bn a year. And it is also suggested that if everyone stopped smoking that they would then live longer and therefore be an even great financial strain on the country. Why then is the government pushing to ban smoking and stop people smoking. It doesn't work on a financial level, is it simply the nanny state telling us what's good for us? I don't really want another row about whether or not people should smoke, more, opinions on why the government are so involved in the process? And where would they recoup this loss in revenue if we all stopped tomorrow?

[campbellking]

Oneeyedvic. Thank-you for your gracious acceptance of my apology. In my naive way, I still think most people like to be civil to each other (don't know why as my first job on leaving school was working as a volunteer in a night shelter...bit 'Lord of the Flies ' at times). But then again, I still almost believe I'm safe walking on a zebra crossing...

Have enjoyed the debate with all of you, and will have to agree to disagree for the most part. Must bow out at this point as I'm nowhere near ready for Christmas, and like many health workers will be working over the festive period.

One final point to Oneeyedvic. The problem with breast screening is not where it starts, but where it finishes. Most cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in ladies over 70. Unless a lady specifically requests further screening, the routine ones stop at 65. Starting at an earlier age group would not be particularly helpful as breast tissue is very dense in the younger age brackets, and more difficult to pick out abnormalities in

Merry Christmas and good health to all in 2006

[gavinbecky]

I'm a former smoker.

The financial implications of banning smoking would save money on NHS resources, we know that. Ultimately though you and me would pay heavily in increased taxes to compensate for loss of revenue to the tax man.

I read somewhere a couple of years ago that our taxes would go up by 6 pence in the pound if smoking were banned and by 8 pence in the pound if alcohol were banned (a 14 pence increase would be a disaster for us all) .

Those people bellyaching now that smoking should be banned full stop will also be on the bandwagon when their taxes rise due to smoking and alcohol bans.

Looking on the bright side at least they will be breathing fresh air as they walk through a town centre talking to all those friendly and sober people on a Friday night.