'£10 licence to smoke' proposed

You're reading it wrong then.

So tell me how you read that then as it seems pretty clear to me.

Originally Posted by Enuff

You're reading it wrong then.

Well to be truthful I can't read any other meaning in what you typed...

[Angua]

Whatever next... Double oh 20 licensed to smoke

All of the addicted, weak-willed smokers. Are you an addicted and/or weak-willed smoker?

Oh i see realised after posting that it was insulting so now reverts to word play ok whatever your meaning was clear to me and to others. Anyway back to topic this is just too stupid to be allowed even by new labour.

Tell me, did I say "all the addicted weak-willed smokers will pay anything for a fag." or did I say "all smokers are addicted, weak-willed and will pay anything for a fag."?

How disingenuous of the government.They dare not ban tobacco or alcohol outright because of the loss of tax income and keep increasing the tax which rakes in more tax and then are to contemplate taking more money in another sort of tax.Yet they are reluctant to ban it because it will just drive it underground in a similar manner that happened to drugs(and alcohol in the US Prohibition era).As it is Customs and Excise chase almost as many tobacco and alcohol smugglers as drug smugglers.

I think it is an affront to freedom to demand that smokers should be treated like children and be licenced in their own home..I'm sick of the nanny state that is step by step removing our rights as adults to choose to do what we like with our own bodies.

Mark my words when tobacco is finally,totally banned further down the line, alcohol will be next.I wonder how all those drinking non smokers will feel then?

[danielf]

With tobacco already twice the price it is on the continent and (from memory) about one in four fags consumed here being 'sourced' from the continent, what do they think this will achieve exactly?

Also, will licences for tourists be available at Heathrow?

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Rob

Totally impractical idea. I'm antismoking, but this is the biggest joke I've heard for a long while. More to the point how much would it cost to administer. Great way of wasting the money that is raked in on taxes from smoking on another tier of civil servant penpushers.

You highlighted (albeit inadvertently) the real reasons for this and many other suggested and/or implemented rules and regulations. The objective is to waste as much money as possible and hire as many unqualified people (ie Labour voters) as possible.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by Enuff

Are you an addicted and/or weak-willed smoker?

I'm an addicted *and* weak-willed smoker

When this turns to alcohol Incog they will expect us smoker's to back them to stop them losing their joy in life. As much as i would love to say "stuff you" as so many did when smoker's had their rights removed, i won't.

Well well well, who'd have thought it more tax on ciggies. Why not increase tax on alcohol, that causes more hassle than smoking, alcohol causes assaults, drunkeness, police time, hospital time.

The Government get close to £1.5billion a year from smokers, they spend £300milliom treating smoking related illnesses. The Government gets £2.1billion from alcohol tax, it costs the government £3billion to tackle alcohol related violence, a smoker doesnt need the police, an ambulance, a police helicopter to trace them when they've knocked someone over due to drink driving, an A&E department to pump their stomach out after a night on the beer, police to come to the hospital after they've tried to hit the doctors and nurse I could go on.

Alcohol causes more trouble and illnesses than smoking will ever do.

[Taf]

Ah yes, but those in power like a tipple after their evening meal perhaps? Brown has been very reluctant to tax spirits I believe.

How long before the £10 licence becomes a ration card I wonder? One pack per day, then half, then 1 solitary ciggie... then the rapid withdrawal (no pun intended) of nicotine-cessation products?

The EU did good in forcing legislation to stop people buying tobacco under the age of 18, but perhaps they should have bitten the bullet and banned SMOKING under age 18?

Originally Posted by Matt D

I'm an addicted *and* weak-willed smoker

So was I until about 8 years ago.