So Will The Purveyors Of Filth And Death Now Just Accept It?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36333450
Or appeal yet again?

[vulcan42]

I think mamyalynne possibly grew up in the age I did when smoking was not only acceptable but it was positively encouraged. I served overseas in the RAF and every few months tea chests would arrive full of cigarettes seized by the customs in England, these were given out to all who wanted them. In those days carrying and smoking cigarettes was looked on as normal as carrying and using a mobile phone today, which some people think that although not as harmful as smoking, the phone is just as much a nuisance. I no longer smoke but carry a mobile so Iv'e just exchanged one nuisance for another, but I guess that's considered progress.

[dave50]

How would the government make up the short fall in tax revenue if everyone gave up smoking?

[Jackdaw33]

Quite right, Vulcan. I grew up in that era. In those days a man who didn't smoke was looked upon as rather odd.

[ToraToraTora]

Smoking does not bring in any net revenue, it is a massive cost.

[mikey4444]

dave...well it is unlikely that everybody would give up simultaneously.

It would happen gradually over a period of years, as it is at the moment.
But this loss in revenue should never be allowed to get in the way of progress in health issues.

[douglas9401]

"I could never understand how Kenneth Clarke could serve as Secretary of State for Health, and simultaneously be a member of the board at Imperial Tobacco!"

In the same way that holy men gibber on about peace, love and understanding until they're blessing a warship or waving off our boys and girls off to be slaughtered under the apparently pitiless gaze of their supreme being of choice.

It pays the bills.

[bodeker]

I am an ex-smoker who smoked maybe 35 a day, I had to stop in 1994 as I had emphysema, when I see young ones today smoking I feel like grabbing hold of them and say listen to me gasping for breath , that's what you have to look forward to! I started at 14 and my parents did not discourage me , they both smoked. My children are grown now but if I had caught them smoking when young I would have kicked them up and down the street until they changed their minds! But they both said the state of me put them off.

[Bazile]

Well naturally the Tobacco manufacturers are running scared of any legislation , that will burn into their bottom line - so they will no doubt appeal yet again .

I'm a non smoker - cigarette smoke has always made me feel ill ; so i have never been held to hostage by the habit .
I sympathise with folk who are trying to kick the habit

Wasn't there a story some years ago where it was discovered that cigarette manufacturers had been putting additional addictive additives in their products , in order to get people hooked on smoking ?

[mikey4444]

bodeker...good story ! We need more people like you to tell like it is...straight from the horse's mouth !

[douglas9401]

Aye Mikey, because nobody ever thought of doing that before.

Ever.

[bodeker]

Douglas, unfortunately as with so many things people will say that won't happen to me or I will stop before I get to that state !

[EDDIE51]

Jackdaw They don't ban them because it would cause a huge illegal market in imported cigs.
I have said on here many times that we have to concentrate on stopping children from starting smoking. This new measure is part of that, it also includes banning packs of less than 20 cigarettes and making the minimum size pack of rolling tobacco 30 g.

[bodeker]

Agree Eddie , need to stop kids starting to smoke.

[EDDIE51]

^^ The 'veteran' smokers are largely a lost cause. Nothing will stop them smoking, yes they should get help but the main thing is to stop kids starting.
Virtually all smokers started at 12 to 16, if we can stop people from using cigarettes under 16 we will have very nearly won the case.

[ToraToraTora]

bazile, as if nicotine is not already addictive enough eh!

Yes we need to get the kids to see reason. I despair when I see the silly litlle s0ds smoking on the way to school, thinking how cool they look. I can't help thinking that in a few years they'll be desperate to stop and won't be able to

[EDDIE51]

Around 10 years ago I saw kids smoking on the way to school every day at least 15 of them a day. It has improved, I hardly see any now the odd one possibly.

[ToraToraTora]

me too, Eddie, usually girls now.

[Prudie]

I absolutely agree that everything should be done to stop children and young people starting in the first place but really this idea that they start because of the look of the packet is ludicrous.

[-Talbot-]

I taser my kids 5 times a month just in case they are considering smoking. It seems to be working.

[mikey4444]

Prudie....kids love images. That John Player Special toy racing car back in my youth was probably one of the causes of so many of my generation taking up smoking.....it was a very clever and pernicious form of advertising. Kids are very susceptible to suggestion and advertising

Eye-catching packaging is right up the top when it comes to advertising
products. A long thin gold-coloured cigarette packet oozes sophistication.

These bright, eye-catching packets are now the only form of advertising left to the tobacco industry, and the sooner they go, the better.