I remember the smell of Condor pipe tobacco well

I remember the smell of Condor pipe tobacco well

That had a very iconic advert when they still allowed to advertise, I recall

Yes, I smoke cigarettes. I used to be one of many amongst my mates: now I'm of four of us

The numbers are indeed dwindling, sadly.

What most people don't realise is that the Government won't stop at smoking. Once the majority of smokers have been coerced into quitting, alcohol will be the next target.

Give them an inch and they will take a mile. Greedy b...

That had a very iconic advert when they still allowed to advertise, I recall

One of these two?

The numbers are indeed dwindling, sadly.

What most people don't realise is that the Government won't stop at smoking. Once the majority of smokers have been coerced into quitting, alcohol will be the next target.

Give them an inch and they will take a mile. Greedy b...

Surely though, the government would prefer to keep the numbers high amongst smokers and drinkers, for tax reasons?

Surely though, the government would prefer to keep the numbers high amongst smokers and drinkers, for tax reasons?

I know, but this is Westminster so don't worry - they will find a way to ruin our lives and still make the same money from taxing us. Sugar tax and e-cigarette tax being two such ways.

I know, but this is Westminster so don't worry - they will find a way to ruin our lives and still make the same money from taxing us. Sugar tax and e-cigarette tax being two such ways.

Ha, good point. We wait in anticipation of the oxygen tax.

Ha, good point. We wait in anticipation of the oxygen tax.

It'll come, don't worry.

Governments always tax whatever is the popular thing of the era and keep collecting it until it proves more costly to collect, than the revenue gained. Paraffin was one of few historical products, to have it's duty cancelled. Window tax was another.

It's somewhat of surprise that there isn't an internet access tax, or a separate mobile phone tax in addition to the VAT yet.

*nothing to see here* :)

Think we should hide that post... Can't have you giving our government ideas

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I've hidden it :P :)

Haha good choice [emoji14]

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I'd be interested to know the amount of money gained from cigarettes vs the amount of money spent towards the downside of them...

Health - nurses, docs, beds, medicines, general nhs

Cleaning - a form of litter when thrown on ground etc etc..

I'd be interested to know the amount of money gained from cigarettes vs the amount of money spent towards the downside of them...

Health - nurses, docs, beds, medicines, general nhs

Cleaning - a form of litter when thrown on ground etc etc..

https://fullfact.org/factchecks/does_smoking_cost_as_much_as_it_makes_for_the_treasury-29288

"Estimates suggest costs anywhere between £3 billion and £6 billion for NHS treatments in a given year. In the longer term the total cost might be lower, since some of those who die prematurely due to smoking might otherwise have gone on to cost the service even more money due to other health conditions.

NHS treatment isn’t the only cost to the government, which spends money on things like sweeping up cigarette butts and putting out fires caused by cigarettes. It also loses tax revenue from lost productivity when people are made ill by smoking."

Edit- "We know they bring in about £12 billion in direct tax revenues, although that doesn’t count other contributions of the tobacco industry to total tax take (for instance income tax paid by employees)."

I'd be interested to know the amount of money gained from cigarettes vs the amount of money spent towards the downside of them...

Health - nurses, docs, beds, medicines, general nhs

Cleaning - a form of litter when thrown on ground etc etc..

U.K. revenue from tobacco in 2012 / 13 = £12.3 BILLION

Source : HMRC / TMA

https://fullfact.org/factchecks/does_smoking_cost_as_much_as_it_makes_for_the_treasury-29288

"Estimates suggest costs anywhere between £3 billion and £6 billion for NHS treatments in a given year. In the longer term the total cost might be lower, since some of those who die prematurely due to smoking might otherwise have gone on to cost the service even more money due to other health conditions.

NHS treatment isn’t the only cost to the government, which spends money on things like sweeping up cigarette butts and putting out fires caused by cigarettes. It also loses tax revenue from lost productivity when people are made ill by smoking."

Edit- "We know they bring in about £12 billion in direct tax revenues, although that doesn’t count other contributions of the tobacco industry to total tax take (for instance income tax paid by employees)."

So in basic terms the Government makes £6 billion in profits from tobacco - enough said!!

More cost to the NHS / Police etc from alcohol abuse than smokers but that's not stigmatised as much as smokers are.

A very biased point of view.

More cost to the NHS / Police etc from alcohol abuse than smokers but that's not stigmatised as much as smokers are.

A very biased point of view.

Indeed, plus nobody ever crashed their car because of "one too many cigarettes".

Indeed, plus nobody ever crashed their car because of "one too many cigarettes".

Indeed.

Drinking to excess is far more anti-social but far more tolerated than some poor beggar just having a quiet tab.

They should make drinking indoors illegal too and see how that goes down.

Indeed, plus nobody ever crashed their car because of "one too many cigarettes".

Well...that you know...could have dropped one on their lap...

Well...that you know...could have dropped one on their lap...

I've dropped a cigarette on myself before, and it is FAR less dangerous for the 2-3 seconds it takes to brush it away, than driving an entire journey under the influence of alcohol.

Plus, I'd be pretty confident that at least 99% of drivers have drank a take-away coffee whilst driving? Well what if you spilled that (whilst hot) on your lap? Exactly the same as a lit cigarette...

Well...that you know...could have dropped one on their lap...

I know a van driver who crashed into a tree as result of discarding his butt out the window.

The wind blew it back in and down the front of his open overalls. He didn't think it was still alight, so he ignored it.

It was and started his T-shirt smouldering. Momentarily forgetting he was driving his van,he removed both hands from the steering wheel, and tried patting himself to extinguish the small fire that was going on around his chest/belly area

Approaching a bend with a tree on the bank, still too distracted with his personal bonfire extinguishing, the van mounted the bank and hit the tree.

I know a van driver who crashed into a tree as result of discarding his butt out the window.

The wind blew it back in and down the front of his open overalls. He didn't think it was still alight, so he ignored it.

It was and started his T-shirt smouldering. Momentarily forgetting he was driving his van,he removed both hands from the steering wheel, and tried patting himself to extinguish the small fire that was going on around his chest/belly area

Approaching a bend with a tree on the bank, still too distracted with his personal bonfire extinguishing, the van mounted the bank and hit the tree.

That's why I would NEVER discard a butt via the window. Aside from being illegal (littering), we have ashtrays - so use them...

Alcohol is No.1 in World Health Organisations list of drugs with the greatest cost to society

I've dropped a cigarette on myself before, and it is FAR less dangerous for the 2-3 seconds it takes to brush it away, than driving an entire journey under the influence of alcohol.

Plus, I'd be pretty confident that at least 99% of drivers have drank a take-away coffee whilst driving? Well what if you spilled that (whilst hot) on your lap? Exactly the same as a lit cigarette...

I rembember someone being stopped on Traffic Cops, where they had reports of this particular driver, being quite erratic. They followed it and observed and then pulled it over.

The driver was eating from a large family sized bowl of trifle, which he'd balanced between himself and the steering wheel!

Alcohol is No.1 in World Health Organisations list of drugs with the greatest cost to society

I rembember someone being stopped on Traffic Cops, where they had reports of this particular driver, being quite erratic. They followed it and observed and then pulled it over.

The driver was eating from a large family sized bowl of trifle, which he'd balanced between himself and the steering wheel!

Well, he gets five stars for effort!