Time to slap another fiver on a pack of snout?

[R1Geezer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8086142.stm
It seems the direct cost of smoking to the NHS is now �5bn, not to mention the indirect costs not just to the NHS, which are huge! Personally I'd slap a fiver straight on, I mean anyone stupid enough to be smoking still must be totally hooked so reel em in.
As usual a Blue Geezer badge to the first person to raise the usual irrelevant but diversionary subject!

[R1Geezer]

No that's where you are wrong jake, I've often said that motoring is too cheap, when the masses can afford to drive 3 empty seats and a ton of steel around with them, it must be too cheap. I'm a big advocate of higher tax on private transport and spending it on public transport.

Smokers above threatening violence illustrate my point perfectly. Is there a more selfish group of ar5sholes? Listen lard ar5ses/drunks et al don't force others to participate that's the point that smokers completely ignore or misunderstand. The smoking ban was necessary, would you ever have restricted your self? Most of them even gas their own kids in the backs of cars. You bought this on yourselves.

[jake-the-peg]

No but I've yet to see a bunch of smokers start a fight and smash up a pub because they've smoken a whole pack!

I've also not heard of anyone run over a child because they've had too much to smoke.

But I'm no great fan of it and I'm pretty pleased that there's no smoking in pubs and restaurants now.

Isn't the EU great? :c)

[Booo]

I adore R1's hypocricy....he started off bleating on about the cost to the NHS, then admitted it was because he personally doesn't like smoking.

I fail to see how me having a ciggy on my back door step affects him, but i'll let that go.

I would like to say that the fat Chavs I serve daily at work their booze and lottery tickets (paid for with my taxes thank you very much!) offends and affects far more than anyone smoking nearby me does.

[R1Geezer]

where's the real Boo then?

[chinadog]

I gave up fags 22 years ago or they gave me up. I suppose im one of the luck ones as I just stopped smoking and never craved a fag. My hubby on the other hand is truly addicted he just cant give up his baccy. He wont buy fags due to the chemicals in them. My grandpa smoked from the age of 12 at sea yet lived to the ripe old age of 94 with no sign of smoking related problems.

[R1Geezer]

"He won't buy fags cos of the chemicals"!?? PMSL, so that baccy has all wholesome organic ingredients then? I think your old man needs a reality check china! It's like saying I prefer Uranium because it's natural as opposed to that nasty man made plutonium. Perlease!

[B00]

That was the real B00 R1, I was temporarily banned, however my points still stands, so there :P

[Davethedog]

I gave up smoking nearly 20 years ago - I don't resent smokers, never did.

Arguments like this are spurious and as others have stated is more to do with personal interests rather than any social view.

If however you give creedence to this argument where does it stop?

Sundat morning footballers - The amount of injuries all over the country on any given weekend by amateur sportsmen that must be a few bob.

Sunbathers on beaches with sunburn in the summer.

People who slip over on uncleared paths in the winter.

All of these are costs and none of these people make any "other" contribution apart from thier taxes.

So where do we stop prevention? I thought the whole point about taxation on cigarettes was to pay for all of this. Its not the smokers fault if its not.