Double whammy for smokers?
Friday, February 1, 2008 The Treasury announced yesterday that the Budget will take place on Wednesday March 12 at 12.30pm. I don't want to worry you, but that's the same date as No Smoking Day. No doubt the Chancellor will be expected to pull a rabbit out of the hat for our rabid anti-smoking friends. I can't believe that any politician - knowing the impact it has on smuggling - would be stupid enough to raise tobacco taxation above the rate of inflation, but you never know.
Then again, he could choose to abolish VAT on nicotine replacement products. I don't have a problem with that, even though the main beneficiaries would be the anti-smoking industry pharmaceutical companies. At least it would address the original purpose of No Smoking Day which was to help those who wish to quit.
Today No Smoking Day is indistinguishable from any other anti-smoking campaign. It's just another part of the denormalisation process, another act in the anti-tobacco circus. A little more respect for those who choose to smoke and don't want to quit wouldn't go amiss. But I'm not holding my breath.
Reader Comments (7)
No Smoking Day just means I make the effort to smoke even more! I will not be dictated to by mindless bullies!
Perhaps someone (hint hint) should start a 'National No Nannying Day' that runs on the same day.
If this government put up cigarettes much more then im afraid people will reasort to crime to beable to afford them. People resort to crime to afford illegal drugs, do we really want to see more crime on our streets. this is what this government fail to realise people will contiue to smoke regardless. My local supermarket was robbed last week and the only thing they took were the cigarettes tells you something dosnt it. Even people who normally live a crimeless life will resort to crime and who can blame them when this government is robbing you each time they decide to have a budget.
Every day is No Smoking Day in Nu-Britain. Here it is wearing it's annual red nose; cajoling us to join in, to get with the program. Are you up to the challenge?
Rather more challenging, but infinitely more rewarding, is to educate oneself as to the actual health-implications of smoking, positive as well as negative, then live with the social-consequences of making adult, informed choices which happen to go against the Nazi-inspired health-dogmas as perpetrated by a corrupt establishment.
Simon asks if any politician would be stupid enough to raise fagtax above inflation, in the knowledge that this will serve to expand the black market. Yes they are and yes they will. We denormalised and [they hope] demoralised smokers are considered Fair Game now. So pathetic are we as cast-out pariahs that we are grateful for any kick from the jackboot, programmed as we are to believe that it's all for our own good. Or, in the doublespeak so favoured of the nu-lab political elite, that we are being "empowered to make better choices". They'll seek to answer the import-question with rhetoric around a "crackdown" on Illegal Smuggling. How long, I silent-wonder aloud, before one is forced to sign this 'ere little register at Tesco before being permitted to purchase Rizlas without tobacco... or that once the Executive have their profoundly dodgy I.D. Card wheeze on the statute, all tobacco-related purchases will come to be I.D. logged and they'll then be able to spot unusual buying-patterns and... [ahem] use such information to enable better targetting of "services".
Yep. Be afraid.
Smuggling is already rife if they put the price up any more the black market will just get bigger. It realy annoys me when they complain about loss of tax from smuggled cigarettes when they have caused the problem in the first place. Its cheaper to take a quick flight to Spain and back, stock up for a few months.
Well said Jane gray!! I agree This is such an awful Nanny state. You cant do this you cant do that. Tut tut tut. Naughty people should all be banned and locked in jail. This wretched government are going to clobber us smokers with doubt and yes people will STEAL Good Luck to them. People will give up as they cant afford to smoke but many will still find a way of smoking. What about the drinkers out there? They can all throw up inside or out but no they will be ok. Government Just Leave us poor smokers alone why dont you. I really think ENGLAND now is the worst country to live. At least smoking you dont loose Friends. Heavy drinking you can loose friends. I know as I lived with my late parents both alcholics. What a sad old nanny sate we all have to put up with. I wish at times i was a loved dog like our two dogs. loved forevermore
Quite frankly I have never seen the point of National No Smoking Day - the whole idea is peurile! Why not take it a step further and make it a bank holiday!?It's all so stupid and patronising. I'll just continue smoking all the more and blow my smoke into the faces of gutless people who give me dirty looks.