Would you pay $100 for a pack of smokes?

**NinjaNanna** · 26th April 2012, 17:09

holy fuck they're huge numbers - blows the mind - hate to think what would happen to the tax revenues when people spot smoking.

Go light another one up guys I can't afford for you to give up

**Bassmatt** · 26th April 2012, 17:11

Originally Posted by NinjaNanna

holy fuck they're huge numbers - blows the mind - hate to think what would happen to the tax revenues when people spot smoking.

GST increase - bet on it.

**unstuck** · 26th April 2012, 17:12

Would I pay $100 for a packet of fags? NO. Would I sell you a packet of fags for $100, YES.

**The Singing Chef** · 26th April 2012, 17:18

Yea it is crazy looking at the numbers! Though 'Grow your own' is apparently pretty damn cheap, just means that you have to learn how to grow a plant

but then I would imagine that the Health ministry and government would then put a levy/registration on 'grow your own' just to rub it in.

**Andy67** · 26th April 2012, 17:20

Originally Posted by NinjaNanna

holy fuck they're huge numbers - blows the mind - hate to think what would happen to the tax revenues when people spot smoking.

Go light another one up guys I can't afford for you to give up

Yep sure pays for a few hospital beds I'm sure, far more than are needed at any one time to treat smoking related illness.....still that's the justification isn't it?

Thing that shits me...it's smoking for the moment, what other personal choice type activities are next?

**The Singing Chef** · 26th April 2012, 17:27

Originally Posted by Andy67

Yep sure pays for a few hospital beds I'm sure, far more than are needed at any one time to treat smoking related illness.....still that's the justification isn't it?

Thing that shits me...it's smoking for the moment, what other personal choice type activities are next?

Motorcycles - noticing a trend at all? Rising prices, public perception etc...

**Nova.** · 26th April 2012, 17:29

Govt wont allow it, think how much they make from tax a year from ciggys?

**sil3nt** · 26th April 2012, 17:30

Originally Posted by Nova.

Govt wont allow it, think how much they make from tax a year from ciggys?

Think how much they spend trying to keep the fuckwits alive in hospital

**Madness** · 26th April 2012, 17:40

It costs the multinationals no more than about NZD$0.50 to produce a packet of 20 cigarettes. Mr Patel makes about $1.50 profit, as does the wholesaler (Foodstuffs). The gubbermint takes around $10.00 ~ $12.00 from that pack of 20's at today's prices. Studies have been done to show that the tax take exceeds the cost of healthcare for a smoking related illness and that was years ago, before the prices reached todays levels.

**sil3nt** · 26th April 2012, 17:52

Originally Posted by Madness

Studies have been done to show that the tax take exceeds the cost of healthcare for a smoking related illness and that was years ago, before the prices reached todays levels.

Really?

I briefly skimmed this document http://www.sfc.org.nz/pdfs/taxareportsummary07.pdf

Costs to NZ: 1.7 Billion
Revenue: 1 Billion

Perhaps I am reading the wrong numbers or reading those numbers wrong but at least I didn't just make something up out of thin air like you.

**SMOKEU** · 26th April 2012, 17:53

It's easy enough to grow your own tobacco, curing it is the hard(er) part. I've smoked some pretty damn good homegrown tobacco before, but it does take a fair bit of skill and knowledge to cure it properly so it tastes good. Plenty of online guides out there on the subject.

**mashman** · 26th April 2012, 17:55

Originally Posted by rustic101

The answer to your question from my perspective as a smoker is Yes. Would it slow my smoking down, maybe, would it stop me No.

As a smoker I was surprised to see even the anti smoking groups rubbishing the concept of increasing the cost. Even the Govt stated it was ridiculous idea - What's this common sense???

Another question one would need to ask is would you pay $100 for a burger, chicken wing or bottle of beer? Where do you stop.

+1 and some chars

**Nova.** · 26th April 2012, 17:58

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

It's easy enough to grow your own tobacco, curing it is the hard(er) part. I've smoked some pretty damn good homegrown tobacco before, but it does take a fair bit of skill and knowledge to cure it properly so it tastes good. Plenty of online guides out there on the subject.

Mixture of rum and sumtin else.

**Madness** · 26th April 2012, 17:58

Originally Posted by sil3nt

I didn't just make something up out of thin air like you.

A report for the Smokefree Coalition and ASH New Zealand. Skewed slightly perhaps?

I worked in the industry for five years. You might think I'm making that up too, in which case you could always go fuck yourself.

**sil3nt** · 26th April 2012, 18:02

Originally Posted by Madness

A report for the Smokefree Coalition and ASH New Zealand. Skewed slightly perhaps?

I worked in the industry for five years. You might think I'm making that up too, in which case you could always go fuck yourself.

So we can't trust ASH but we can trust you because you worked in the industry? Yeah ok

If your going to claim smoking doesn't cost the country you could at least back it up.