Proof please.
Smokers pay in tax £9bn a year
It costs the NHS £2.7bn a year.
I wonder were the gov would get the £9bn a year in taxes if the smokers packed it up today?
The Smoking Ban - 2 years on.
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Proof please.
Smokers pay in tax £9bn a year
It costs the NHS £2.7bn a year.
I wonder were the gov would get the £9bn a year in taxes if the smokers packed it up today?
Absolutely fantastic. I for one no longer feel burdened by somebody else's lifestyle choice every time I venture out.
You are free to stop smoking whenever you wish
You are free to stop smoking whenever you wish
You used 2006 figures to say that my proportion was incorrect, I merely pointed out the NHS budget was lower in 2006 as well.
Again you point out only corporate profits, what about the income tax of tobacco workers, what about the tax on distribution costs? there are a massive number of ancialliary taxes that go to raise the overall taxes raised by the govt as a result of smoking.
You need to think of the bigger picture.
Reminds me of a Yes, Prime Minister episode on banning smoking... (everything about the ban that was suggested in the episode (made in 1984), which was laughed at, has actually happened!):
Jim Hacker: Humphrey, we are talking about 100,000 deaths a year.
Sir Humphrey: Yes, but cigarette taxes pay for a third of the cost of the National Health Service. We are saving many more lives than we otherwise could because of those smokers who voluntary lay down their lives for their friends. Smokers are national benefactors
Jim Hacker: Humphrey, we are talking about 100,000 deaths a year.
Sir Humphrey: Yes, but cigarette taxes pay for a third of the cost of the National Health Service. We are saving many more lives than we otherwise could because of those smokers who voluntary lay down their lives for their friends. Smokers are national benefactors
It's fantastic.
As a seasoned pub-goer, it's absolutely brilliant not coming back to work from a lunchtime pint stinking of smoke, coming home after an after-work pint and not stinking of smoke, or waking up in the morning after a big night out, again not stinking of smoke - not to mention not coughing up second-hand crap for half the morning.
Long may it continue.
As a seasoned pub-goer, it's absolutely brilliant not coming back to work from a lunchtime pint stinking of smoke, coming home after an after-work pint and not stinking of smoke, or waking up in the morning after a big night out, again not stinking of smoke - not to mention not coughing up second-hand crap for half the morning.
Long may it continue.
I'm still not convinced either way. The only good thing about not being able to smoke in a club is that you can more easily go outside for a breath of fresh air (and a smoke) and escape for a while. The whole not smelling of smoke is one thing, but the stench of stale booze and sweat is just as bad. Smoking whilst eating isn't nice, but well ventilated smoking areas weren't so bad. About the only thing I liked about South Africa when I went there was smoking inside... or at least the choice of smoking inside.
Parts of the law need to be changed, for example smoking should be allowed in private members clubs and in smoking rooms in hotels. Smoking should also be allowed again in sheesha bars as it was a major source of income. It probably needs a rethink, but I would still sway ever so slightly towards the total ban rather than a complete relaxation of the law.
Parts of the law need to be changed, for example smoking should be allowed in private members clubs and in smoking rooms in hotels. Smoking should also be allowed again in sheesha bars as it was a major source of income. It probably needs a rethink, but I would still sway ever so slightly towards the total ban rather than a complete relaxation of the law.
I wasn't commenting on your proportion... see post 87.
All those ancillary taxes would still exist, just originated from wherever the smokers chose to spend their money rather than tobacco. In fact they would likely be higher since spending money on tobacco is pretty bad for the economy, most of it vanishes as tax in one hit! By a pizza from a local restaurant and the most of the money is still available to be spent again by the restaurant owner etc... It's good for the economy if the same pound is spent and re-spent many times, there are few things worse for this than tobacco.
Extended?Was it a two year ban only?
As in further restrictions..
The bans been mostly positive from what i've seen, smokers have gotten used to it and its nicer for everyone else.
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Smoking ban is a great thing. Smoke stinks. Simple.
This attitude really annoys me, the choice has just been switched from smokers to non-smokers. I didn't have the choice of going to a bar/club/restaurant without breathing in smoke and my clothes stinking before the ban came in, why is the choice for smokers to smoke where they wish more important?
The people with the "choice" have switched but at least it is now more of a compromise. Before the ban, a non smoker had the choice of inhaling second hand smoke or not going out at all and smokers could smoke inside or outside bars etc. Now both parties can go out to the same place, smokers can still smoke and non smokers don't have to breathe it in.
I think the ban is a wonderful thing. I hate being around smokers and I'm very happy that I finally have a choice other than "well don't go to places smokers go".
I've smoked in pubs and clubs for nigh on 30 years, as have a lot of friends of mine. My reckoning is that it has killed the atmosphere. Having to get up, or other people at your table having to get up all the time just ruins the occasion.
I reckon that we should have stuck to the smoking areas we used to have.
I reckon that we should have stuck to the smoking areas we used to have.
You still havent addressed:-
I am sorry, but you are just wrong! Never mind the additional cost for state pensions through people living longer, the additional cost for long term care, and those people that cost 1bn in NHS costs at 50, will still be costing 1bn in NHS costs when they die older.
I am afraid your reasoning holds no water.
I agree with you 100%, it should have been allowed for pubs etc to be able to have segregated rooms for smokers, I have no issue with them being kept apart from people who find it distasteful.
The previous situation with non-smokers having smoke forced upon them was worse imho.
People can still smoke in Hotel "smoking" bedrooms, so it should be possible for businesses to make proper indoors provision without being hounded for trying to keep their businesses alive.
When I smoked, I didnt smoke indoors at home, I had some respect for my environment and family. So I see no reason not to have the same respect for strangers.
Totally agree.They should have given places the option to ban it or not.
Places that serve food should have been made to ban it.
IMO it's killed the pub trade in this country.Couple that with the ever increasing tax on alcohol.
I used to smoke and smoking doesn't bother me in the slightest.
The problem with banning smoking is it would immediately create a huge black market with criminals raking in enormous revenue. As for the country going bankrupt, well in the event of banning of tobacco then the government would clearly need to raise taxes elsewhere. All the smokers would not suddenly have excess money, they would spend it on something else that would actually stimulate the economy.
My opinion on the ban is it's been an extremely positive change to society. Especially somewhere like the UK where pub culture is absolutely central to society, it does seem like another century where youngsters going through their adult rite of passage entering a bar for the first time would walk into a room heavily laden with cigarette smoke.
I 100% love the smoking ban, means I can wear jeans more than once before having to wash them (as they dont stink of smoke!)
As for banning cigarettes- that would be retarded imho. People would still buy them its just they would be illegal, full of **** and no revenue generated. Plus it would make how many thousands of people unemployed in the UK? (Imperial tobacco alone employs a huge number of people....)
As for banning cigarettes- that would be retarded imho. People would still buy them its just they would be illegal, full of **** and no revenue generated. Plus it would make how many thousands of people unemployed in the UK? (Imperial tobacco alone employs a huge number of people....)
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I think smoking rooms would have been a good idea.
One of the pubs in my town decided to decorate half the pub before the ban and half after.
When the first half was complete it was non smoking and the other half was still a smoking venue.
Both sides were packed and nobody complained.
I always get the impression that the ban was so comprehensive is so that every man and his dog isn't trying to exploit loop holes.
Interesting facts regarding the UKs smoking bans:
Scotland allows smoking in police interview rooms but actors cannot smoke while performing,
England allows smoking on stage but makes no provision in police interview rooms.
Oil rigs are exempt
Dedicated hotel rooms can allow smoking
And work places with only one employee and no other staff or customers is exempt i.e. homeworking
Farmers cannot smoke in tractors if anyone else will go in the tractor, but a shared pool car could be smoked in if it were a convertible.
One of the pubs in my town decided to decorate half the pub before the ban and half after.
When the first half was complete it was non smoking and the other half was still a smoking venue.
Both sides were packed and nobody complained.
I always get the impression that the ban was so comprehensive is so that every man and his dog isn't trying to exploit loop holes.
Interesting facts regarding the UKs smoking bans:
Scotland allows smoking in police interview rooms but actors cannot smoke while performing,
England allows smoking on stage but makes no provision in police interview rooms.
Oil rigs are exempt
Dedicated hotel rooms can allow smoking
And work places with only one employee and no other staff or customers is exempt i.e. homeworking
Farmers cannot smoke in tractors if anyone else will go in the tractor, but a shared pool car could be smoked in if it were a convertible.
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