Tobacco tax on the increase.

**Oakie** · 28th April 2010, 20:33

Thought someone else would have started this thread by now. Perhaps all the smokers are off stocking up before the price rises at midnight (probably)?

The stated aim of the increase is to stop people smoking and so reduce the burden on the health system of smoking related diseases. It'll be interesting to see if it makes the difference they're hoping for.

**Maha** · 28th April 2010, 20:40

It wont make a difference at all and heres why,
When I was a smoker, price hikes did not bother me at all.
The Government says the increase will hopefully make smoking less affordable to smokers....bullshit!
The are just collecting more taxes.
If they wanted smokers to quit, they would put all smokes up to $25-30 per packet overnight (even then some would still pay)
An extra dollar or so is fuck all to a smoker.
Smokers wont get sucked in by this little attempt to drag more money out of them.

**steve_t** · 28th April 2010, 20:41

It's nearly A$20 a pack in Australia!
I remember the last time the tax on smokes went up, they interviewed a couple on TV who said the rise would mean their kids would go hungry... WTF?!

**mashman** · 28th April 2010, 20:41

Good incentive for some no doubt... i'll keep puffing away til the day I don't want to anymore... or the day it doesn't want me anymore... or the day it becomes illegal... whichever comes soonest. And i've not been a drag on any health service (apart from stoopid broken kid bits)...

**mashman** · 28th April 2010, 20:43

Originally Posted by Maha

It wont make a difference at all and heres why,
When I was a smoker, price hikes did not bother me at all.
The Government says the increase will hopefully make smoking less affordable to smokers....bullshit!
The are just collecting more taxes.
If they wanted smokers to quit, they would put all smokes up to $25-30 per packet overnight.
An extra dollars is fuck all to a smoker.
Smokers wont get sucked in by this little attempt to drag more money out of them.

It's ALL smoke and mirrors... if they wanted you to quit, they'd make it illegal.

**Maha** · 28th April 2010, 20:45

Originally Posted by mashman

It's ALL smoke and mirrors... if they wanted you to quit, they'd make it illegal.

They dont wont smokers to quit, not with almost 1 Billion dollars in taxes collected each year.

**EJK** · 28th April 2010, 20:58

Them fat maori mums wont afford baby foods no more!

**LBD** · 28th April 2010, 20:58

Just walking back from lunch down town Bishkek, as we walked past a kiosk, I commented on how expensive smoking must be in Kyrgyzstan.....as you can buy cigarettes....each, one, 1/20 of a packet.

**SMOKEU** · 28th April 2010, 21:01

Originally Posted by EJK

Them fat maori mums wont afford baby foods no more!

Yeah but many niggas can't afford food in the first place. They spend all their money on booze, smokes and gambling anyway.

**Milts** · 28th April 2010, 21:02

Originally Posted by Maha

They dont wont smokers to quit, not with almost 1 Billion dollars in taxes collected each year.

What about all the public health care costs associated with smokers. And the loss of income tax on people who die early or retire early due to health problems.

It's not the most effective way of lowing the rate of smoking, and to be honest I don't think taxing it to up the price is the way it should be done. But the fact is that there will be a few people for whom this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, and will push them into quitting. And I'm sure the extra revenue can be put to good use somewhere.... preferably ACC or the health system (not that I believe it will. But it's possible).

**Gone Burger** · 28th April 2010, 21:22

Might have the desired effect on the younger generation of smokers (teens). Can imagine that it will be a real hard push for many of them to find that extra cash time and time again. My brother started smoking at the age of 14, and to be honest, he may not have smoked so much through his teens if the price has been much higher.

But yes, when there is a will, there is a way. I'm sure many will not be put off but the cost increase, just end up with even less cash in the pocket at the end of the week. And in some situations, that may be a particually bad outcome.