Nicotine,Cigarettes,Tobacco and Cigars

[m419]

As a smoker I am getting frustrated with the UK government pressurising to quit smoking.

I'm aware of the health problems

However, i've been smoking since I was 14 and have tried numerous times to quit but it is ever so difficult and the fact that I like the smell and taste and the whole satisfaction of smoking cigarettes makes it even harder.

Should the government leave smokers alone and let them decide? They are clearly aware of the possible health problems.

Nicotine patches,gum,mists and any other rubbish that they try and encourage smokers to use, does not work full stop. It is a load of rubbish! In fact a study showed that the free patches and the NHS stop smoking service have been a complete waste of time!

Nicotine replacement therapy products to me are a easy way for pharmaceutical companies to cash in on nicotine and take advantage of those wanting to stop smoking or take advantage of those pressurised by the health service to quit.

From my experience, Nicotine replacement products actually encouraged me to smoke more and prolonged my cravings.

In the United States, a company came up with an idea of Nicotine water, which had quite similar levels of nicotine as standard cigarettes, but health groups postponed it worrying about people overdosing themselves on nicotine. This could have been a good alternative to smoking.

If the government really wanted to stop smoking, why don't they just ban it full stop?

The tobacco tax is just making the poor poorer and the government richer. You can't just stop smoking like that and the government knows it!

Is the government really to blame for smoking related deaths? Say they banned Nicotine in the 70's and 80's, how many lives would be unaffected by smoking,cigarettes and related deaths?

If Nicotine replacement products really do work, then why hasn't the tobacco industry not chosen to provide such products to prevent losing customers? Because they know it doesn't work and they will just start smoking again!

The only way to stop addiction is to go cold turkey for as long as possible and if all Nicotine products including cigarettes were banned then it would be easier for people!

And remember the higher the taxes go, the smuggled and tax free tabacco increases.

[martyh]

They should just leave it alone and stop treating people like kids

[m419]

I understand smoking cigarettes can cause serious problems and costs the NHS money but the government is taxing is heavily for it, therefore it should be used in the NHS.

I kind of blame the government for smoking, if it wasn't around at the time I was 14 I wouldn't have a problem now.

They should just ban it all or just leave people alone!

[carlwaring]

As a non-smoker, and given what we now know about the effects of it, I cannot understand why anyone would want to either start or continue to do so.

Where's the option to double the tax on it?

I'd like to vote for the "ignore it" option but with the proviso that, as it is self-inflicted, any treatment they want on the NHS has to be paid for. (See also heavy/binge drinkers and the obese; except those with recognised dietary problems, of course.)

[denphone]

Originally Posted by martyh

They should just leave it alone and stop treating people like kids

Spot on Martyh.

[m419]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

As a non-smoker, and given what we now know about the effects of it, I cannot understand why anyone would want to either start or continue to do so.

Where's the option to double the tax on it?

It just went up hahaha

But that's the thing! awareness about tobacco and smoking as well nicotine addiction as well as the cancer scares has been common knowledge for many decades!

Most smokers if not all actually start at a vulnerable age

[Taf]

I'm in the same boat. I've stopped a few times, reduced my consumption to almost nothing, but always go back to my pack-a-day addiction.

All the patches and sprays have little or no effect on me, and I'm sure they make a mass of profit on them as they seem to follow the price of smoking tobacco.

I actually ENJOY smoking, but this has meant modifying my behaviour (I haven't smoked in the home for over 20 years, stopped going to pubs when the ban came in) but still the anti-tobacco crowd hounds me by forcing through more and more anti-smoker rules.

HMG dosn't want to ban tobacco, but here in Wales, the charity Tenovus called for an outright ban recently. Could the governments coffers take the blow of a tobacco ban?

Customs modifed how many we can bring in from the EU again recently, down to

• 800 cigarettes
• 200 cigars
• 400 cigarillos
• 1kg tobacco


Whereas the cigarette "limit" was previously 3,500 AFAIK, after pressure from the EU.

Hence there is more smuggling and more loss to the exchequer.

But smokers are a milk cow to HMG.

[m419]

And I don't understand why the tax on cigarettes,cigars and tobacco is so high in comparison to alcohol and high saturated fat foods.

They both do the same if not worse damage!

Fatty foods and alcohol are serious cause of diabetes as it creates a fatty liver which then stops working properly which prompts the pancreas to stop working properly which is diabetes!

Alcohol also damaged the liver over time as well as lowers peoples immune systems making them vulnerable to viruses and illnesses and also alcohol can lower the iron in your blood making you enaemic.

Ingredients such as Hydrogenated Vegetable/palm oil in food also know as trans-fats causes the same damage as smoking such as blocked arteries much faster than smoking, this stuff is in sweets,cakes,biscuits ect..... one example is Maynards sweets! So you could be giving your child this.

The government has no idea!

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

I'd like to vote for the "ignore it" option but with the proviso that, as it is self-inflicted, any treatment they want on the NHS has to be paid for. (See also heavy/binge drinkers and the obese; except those with recognised dietary problems, of course.)

It already is paid for by the taxes put on top of the stuff.

whether they choose to give it to the NHS or not is up to them. but it's been paid.

if you don't smoke, drink, work, drive, or do anything that is taxable. should we let you have treatment out of the taxes we have paid because you haven't paid any?

[m419]

I am very happy with the responses in this thread and would like to know more from the non-smokers as well. Honestly, your comments will be appreciated.

I was expecting a whole big list of negative comments and remarks but the results are interesting, just hope someone in government or at the Department of Health actually sees this thread as it is publicly viewable when using search engines.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

As a non-smoker, and given what we now know about the effects of it, I cannot understand why anyone would want to either start or continue to do so.

Where's the option to double the tax on it?

I'd like to vote for the "ignore it" option but with the proviso that, as it is self-inflicted, any treatment they want on the NHS has to be paid for. (See also heavy/binge drinkers and the obese; except those with recognised dietary problems, of course.)

Smokers already contribute billions a year more in tax than they cost the NHS, you'd soon hear people moaning if income tax went up a couple of pence to make up the shortfall and with the current pension crisis and elderly population I'm surprised the government isn't encouraging us to take up smoking.

[m419]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Smokers already contribute billions a year more in tax than they cost the NHS, you'd soon hear people moaning if income tax went up a couple of pence to make up the shortfall and with the current pension crisis and elderly population I'm surprised the government isn't encouraging us to take up smoking.

They have a solution to that as well, fluoridated water, there are too many rumours that it causes more problems than it can prevent, shortening lives and cutting down the forever ageing population. Elderly people are more likely to consume tap water than younger people, I know it might sound crazy but there are too many rumours and outrage about it in the United States and already 10% of the UK has non-naturally occuring fluoride added to water. Fluoride which is formed from industrial waste. It is intended to reduce bad dental health? Really, so why not offer free dental care for those who can't afford it???

[Taf]

Originally Posted by m419

...so why not offer free dental care for those who can't afford it???

They do, but you may have a problem finding a dentist that will take you on.

You do not have to pay for NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts, you are:

aged under 18
under 19 and receiving full-time education
pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months
staying in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
an NHS hospital dental service outpatient (however, you may have to pay for your dentures or bridges).

You also do not have to pay if, when the treatment starts, you are receiving:

Income Support
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Pension Credit guarantee credit

or

you are named on a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate or you are entitled to an NHS tax credit exemption certificate
you are named on a valid HC2 certificate

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...ntalcosts.aspx

[m419]

Originally Posted by Taf

They do, but you may have a problem finding a dentist that will take you on.



http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...ntalcosts.aspx

I tried all that being employed full time but on just over minimum wage, you don't get nothing! and it is only income based jobseekers allowance, so if you lose your job you get put on contribution based jobseekers allowance which is not included.

Furthermore,income support is no longer available to many new claimaints as most have been shifted onto ESA. All these will be replaced by Universal Credit.

[rogerdraig]

not enough options to vote

i say higher the taxes

and make them sellable only from adult shops

loving the abilty to go to the pub for a meal with out risking the trip to hospital from the asthma atack the places used to induce before the ban etc