I'd rather the government stay out of it. They've gotten billions from the tobacco companies, and instead of using it to 'discourage' smoking, they spend it on other stuff.
When enough people quit smoking to make a dent in the taxes they pay on cigarettes, the government, who is addicted to tax dollars, has to find another way to get their fix. In the end, the smoking nazis (not saying you are one) will be paying taxes on something else to make up for the 'success' of their efforts to stop smoking.
Welcome to the fat tax. Coming to a fast food restaurant near you.
Exactly right. Just as the tobacco lobbyists wanted.
When enough people quit smoking to make a dent in the taxes they pay on cigarettes, the government, who is addicted to tax dollars, has to find another way to get their fix. In the end, the smoking nazis (not saying you are one) will be paying taxes on something else to make up for the 'success' of their efforts to stop smoking.
I wouldn't mind paying more taxes if it deprived the government of a conflict of interest in this important public health problem.
And forgive me if I cross the boundary towards smoking Nazism. My father died of lung cancer last year. But I have friends who smoke and I don't really mind if they smoke in my presence. (I am aware that second hand smoke is not good for you but that the risk from it is pretty low.)