The Hypocrisy of Governmental Attempts to Stop Smoking
 

It really bugs me. I mean, I personally hate smoking, think it's a filthy habit and would be happier if nobody smoked, but hey, I don't run the world (yet), so who am I to say? But the way our government, at least, approaches "the problem of smoking" is so two-faced it must be impossible to sneak up on them!

Every single budget, the smokes get hit. Fifty cents here, fifty cents there: it's now over eleven Euro for a pack of twenty. And why? Cos they know that no matter how much they raise the price, smokers will pay. Then they justify this by saying "Oh it's bad for your health. We'd love to see everyone stop smoking."

No you ****ing wouldn't!

And here's why.

1. The amount of jobs that would be lost if suddenly everyone in Ireland quit smoking

2. The revenue that would be lost to the government

3. More people living longer, with a major cause of cancer gone. Therefore more pension to find, more expenses, more overcrowding and homelessness, more crime etc

4. The closure of charities and groups that help people quit

5. The loss of advertising revenue and the loss of major sponsorship of events

6. The possibility people, especially kids, might try harder drugs earlier? I don't know...


At least the doctors, surgeons and health professionals who call for a ban on smoking are being genuine and honest. I'd like to see the govt just once leave the smokers alone on Budget Day. God knows, they're paying enough for their addiction as it is, and every year it gets more and more expensive.

I don't get it. Even when I smoked I wasn't arsed. Yes it was expensive but I wasn't being forced and it was me who decided to start in the first place.

If smokers don't like the cost of smoking, stop smoking or look for cheaper alternatives.

I smoke. I pay around 7-9 bucks a pack depending on if it's a dollar or two off at the time because I smoke Marlboro 27's. I'm broke. I still buy them. I only have myself to blame but I can't stay away from that sweet sweet tobacky.

It's also my ticket out of here before the sun burns us alive.

I smoke because not smoking is a gateway drug.

Smoking reduces crime. I'll buy that.

I have to admit, I've got a lot of sympathy with smokers. Usually they started early (Karen started at 17 I think) and often just to be "one of the crowd", so you have peer pressure. Once you're there it seems you're stuck, as it is very addictive. It is dangerous, of course, but then so is alcohol and other drugs, so why don't governments recognise the massive contribution smokers are making to the economy and give them a break? Apparently the govt here rakes in two billion Euro every year in tax on cigarettes: that's a lot of money they'd have to look for elsewhere if nobody was buying cigarettes, no? Why not reward the poor put-upon smokers by maybe reducing the cost of a pack of twenty, or is that being too radical? They're gonna smoke anyway - how many people do you know who have said "I gave up smoking cos it was too expensive?" I mean, everyone knows it is that, but it doesn't seem to be a factor in people deciding to quit. After they have done so, yes, they see the benefit in their wallet or purse, but I doubt it's the original driving incentive.

Am I the only one who thinks 17 is actually late to start smoking? You could buy tobacco at 16 when I started and everyone got people to go into the shop for them, most people I know started at about 12/14 years old. If you've got to 17 without smoking you're doing well imo.

90% of the people who I know that have quit smoking did it because it's too expensive.

I rarely buy 20 packs since the prices here were hiked to over 11 Euro. The exception being on nights out when a pack is more convenient than rollies.

Continuously putting up the prices of cigarettes is not going to stop people smoking. There will always be cheaper alternatives. I've saved a ton of money by smoking Amber Leaf rollies instead (although I could save a lot more money by not smoking...)

Two words: Catholic Ireland. :D