Feckin Nanny State

P_1

Apparently it is illegal to sell smokes for less than €7.14 in this banana republic as to sell them for less will encourage people to start smoking.:mad:

For fook sake, between this and the new offie hours, god help any Fianna Fail TD who comes calling to my door looking for a vote in future.

Captain Darling

Here, here say I.

Bah humbug!!!!!

Guy:Incognito

Have cigarrettes not always been a minimum price?

Meh anyway, smoking is bad for you.

Overheal

$2 in America. God Bless.

eoin2nc

pithater1 wrote: »

Apparently it is illegal to sell smokes for less than €7.14 in this banana republic as to sell them for less will encourage people to start smoking.:mad:

For fook sake, between this and the new offie hours, god help any Fianna Fail TD who comes calling to my door looking for a vote in future.

Imagine a government trying to protect the publics health......:rolleyes:

Red Alert

And you expect those of us who don't smoke to cough up tax to pay for hospitals?

P_1

Well I'd have no problem with the stupidly high tax on tobacco if I knew that the money was going to be spent properly and not pissed away as seems to be the only thing the Fianna Fail untermenchen can manage

JJ

Yiz can pay through the nose for all I care.

irlirishkev

Not much of a smoker so don't really care about the price of cigarettes.

As for that stupid fukkin curfew on buying alcohol.. what a joke. Treating us like babies. I was in Tesco the day it came into practice. Totally forgot. Went to get a couple of cans, and low and behold, the offie was closed off. I never felt so annoyed. I genuinely felt like running amok in the store..

Fu*kheads (Government, not Tesco)

StiffLitlemicky

Red Alert wrote: »

And you expect those of us who don't smoke to cough up tax to pay for hospitals?

No I'll pay my own hospital bills. The OP's point is that we get ripped off no matter what we buy.
I reckon you'd start complaining if the goverment put up the price of baby Pacifiers.

Typically irishman response, you really are a 'special one'.:p

Larianne

I think a few french stylee protests are in order! That's the problem with this country, we moan but don't do anything about it. And then people vote the TDs back in!

Sashy

Larianne, I could not agree more with your quote, you are 100 percent right, people in ireland complain about everything and wont do anything about it, just let the fookin government do what they want, (they could literally do anything they wanted) and nothing would happen.

Ass

Winfield or Pal Mal or what ever they're called now are €6.79.

brianthebard

irlirishkev wrote: »

Not much of a smoker so don't really care about the price of cigarettes.

As for that stupid fukkin curfew on buying alcohol.. what a joke. Treating us like babies. I was in Tesco the day it came into practice. Totally forgot. Went to get a couple of cans, and low and behold, the offie was closed off. I never felt so annoyed. I genuinely felt like running amok in the store..

Fu*kheads (Government, not Tesco)

Ah now to be fair, tesco are fuckheads.

P_1

Ass Face wrote: »

Winfield or Pal Mal or what ever they're called now are €6.79.

They were, until I went to buy a packet today and was told about the 7.14 thing. Hence my little rant there.

As for displaying our displeasure with the government, what is there to do? I mean they'll hardly pay attention to us if we all march demanding new elections will they? (Besides the same lemmings will probably still vote for them)

Guy:Incognito

pithater1 wrote: »

As for displaying our displeasure with the government, what is there to do? I mean they'll hardly pay attention to us if we all march demanding new elections will they? (Besides the same lemmings will probably still vote for them)

Stop smoking and starve them of tax money. That'll show em.

mike65

You smoke therefore you deserve to die (poor, cos you're paying 7.14 for a days fix!)

Mike

Larianne

I'm going to sit down this weekend and write a letter to the government over the state of the health system and especially how elderly people are treated (I have never written before.) I have travelled many countries in Asia, where their economy is near non-existant and the healthcare system is whatever they can get but they try their best to look after their elders.

Here, people are left on trolleys in hospital beds because there is no where else for them to go. All the beds in nursing homes are full or people just can't afford to pay for the beds. (They cost roughly 1,300 euro a week!!!) These vunerable people then are left to return home and look after themselves until they get sick again or have a fall and break a hip etc. The impression I get from some elderly people is that they don't want to leave hospital because they'll be left on their own with little or no support, where in hospital there are nurses about and it's warm and they get proper meals. So this causes overcrowding in hospitals, overworked staff which leads to all these MSRA outbreaks. This is just not acceptable at all. And the thing is, we will live longer than people today. Where are are parents going to go? Where will we go when we get older? You're lucky if you can pay for private treatment, but many people can't. Look at that lady with Locked in syndrome who had to be flown to England for treatment!!

The politicians don't need to worry about it as they can pay for their relatives healthcare privately and no doubt will be first on the list to be seen.

The way the economy is going in many sectors, companies are forced to ask employees to take pay cuts or leave. I think this should be done with the government. And that is what I will put to the TDs. It might fall on deaf ears but I think more people have to start taking action against the way the country is going and not let these people WE chose to put in power do what they like and continue to bring the country down while they get paid thousands to do it!!!!

-Sorry if this is slightly off topic!!:o

And I just want to add - Everyone should be doing this. No point of complaining on here. Send your letters. Tell them you won't vote for their party in the next election. I have no real interest in politics but since coming home, this government and what they are getting away with is really p*ssing me off!!!!

DaSilva

eoin2nc wrote: »

Imagine a government trying to protect the publics health......:rolleyes:

I'm a smoker and I don't mind the high prices simply because it helps me not smoke so much. I do laugh at the attitude that is thrown at smokers who do complain though.

Hey eoin2nc wonder how good for your health all those hours playing computer games is? Wonder if you would still have the same feelings if they were too clamp down on hours you could spend gaming online like China is doing (or trying to do, I don't remember).

JJ wrote: »

Yiz can pay through the nose for all I care.

What about a burger tax? Heart Disease is a huge killer in Ireland right? I look after my weight and cholesterol levels why should I have to pay for health services of those of you in the country who eat **** and drink too much?


Keep the cigarette tax in my opinion, but lose the tobacco police attitude.

Quazzie

StiffLitlemicky wrote: »

No I'll pay my own hospital bills.

Do you think what you get charged covers what the hospital pays out??? It barely covers the paper work... Meanwhile the rest of us pay tax to cover your dying ass

StiffLitlemicky

mike65 wrote: »

You smoke therefore you deserve to die (poor, cos you're paying 7.14 for a days fix!)

Mike

You breath air, therefor you deserve to die.:rolleyes:

I don't mind anti-smokers i just hate some of them TWATS:pac:

SLM.;)

StiffLitlemicky

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

Do you think what you get charged covers what the hospital pays out??? It barely covers the paper work... Meanwhile the rest of us pay tax to cover your dying ass

Got any facts to back that up?
I reckon you push paper for a living, am i right?

what about the money spent on the irish olympic team, is that not money wasted in a worse way?

Being a smoker does not mean you are a bad person, i am though.:pac:

dotsman

If every smoker was to give up tomorrow, this country would be completely ****ered financially. I'm only a light smoker and have no (financial) problem paying the high taxes, but get pissed off with the whole "but smokers cost the health system so much" brigade. These people don't have a clue.

fredzer

pithater1 wrote: »

Apparently it is illegal to sell smokes for less than €7.14 in this banana republic as to sell them for less will encourage people to start smoking.:mad:

For fook sake, between this and the new offie hours, god help any Fianna Fail TD who comes calling to my door looking for a vote in future.

I agree FF have lost the plot totally, another thread comes to mind... 'Poeple you would like to punch in the side of the head' ...when that door bell rings come election time ... BANG! .. I WISH

Here's a tip for smokers that are pissed off paying above the odds for a pack of fags... make some Polish friends asap, I havn't bought a pack from a shop in over two years as my new European friends are happy to sell me 200 for the keen price of 30euro! F**k you Fianna FAIL

smellslikeshoes

dotsman wrote: »

If every smoker was to give up tomorrow, this country would be completely ****ered financially. I'm only a light smoker and have no (financial) problem paying the high taxes, but get pissed off with the whole "but smokers cost the health system so much" brigade. These people don't have a clue.

Thats not true. Smokers cost the tax payer more than they pay for in taxes on cigarettes. Treating cancer is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. If all smokers stopped tomorrow, the country would still be paying for treatment of smoking related illnesses for decades to come.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

dlofnep

Ban fags altogether. There is not one good reason for them to be legal.

I say this as an ex-smoker! I quit when the smoking ban came in. Why? Money, health, happyness!

axer

"The cost of smoking in the workplace occurs in several different ways. If the cost of increased absenteeism and smoking breaks alone are considered it is estimated that workplace smoking cost the Irish economy 385m euro in 2002"

Then you have health costs which are about 40% higher for smokers (plus the cost from second hand smoke). You also have other costs such as littering, smoking prevention, fires, etc

StiffLitlemicky

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Thats not true. Smokers cost the tax payer more than they pay for in taxes on cigarettes. Treating cancer is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. If all smokers stopped tomorrow, the country would still be paying for treatment of smoking related illnesses for decades to come.

Bollox,
So with that attitude why does a major part of tax payments given to people that choose to have babies?

What should my tax money be spent to help people that chose to have children?
What should this money be paid no matter how rich or poor the parrents are?

It's a two way street mate and it's not all one way.

So with your logic Ireland should become a non sex state!;)

fredzer

dlofnep wrote: »

Ban fags altogether. There is not one good reason for them to be legal.

I say this as an ex-smoker! I quit when the smoking ban came in. Why? Money, health, happyness!

Congrats! I'm having a smoke now... mmmm flavour country!:D

Reformed smoker logic makes me laugh, so lets ban everything that doesn't have a 'good reason to be legal.'

congo_90

Larianne wrote: »

I'm going to sit down this weekend and write a letter to the government over the state of the health system and especially how elderly people are treated (I have never written before.) I have travelled many countries in Asia, where their economy is near non-existant and the healthcare system is whatever they can get but they try their best to look after their elders.

Here, people are left on trolleys in hospital beds because there is no where else for them to go. All the beds in nursing homes are full or people just can't afford to pay for the beds. (They cost roughly 1,300 euro a week!!!) These vunerable people then are left to return home and look after themselves until they get sick again or have a fall and break a hip etc. The impression I get from some elderly people is that they don't want to leave hospital because they'll be left on their own with little or no support, where in hospital there are nurses about and it's warm and they get proper meals. So this causes overcrowding in hospitals, overworked staff which leads to all these MSRA outbreaks. This is just not acceptable at all. And the thing is, we will live longer than people today. Where are are parents going to go? Where will we go when we get older? You're lucky if you can pay for private treatment, but many people can't. Look at that lady with Locked in syndrome who had to be flown to England for treatment!!

The politicians don't need to worry about it as they can pay for their relatives healthcare privately and no doubt will be first on the list to be seen.

The way the economy is going in many sectors, companies are forced to ask employees to take pay cuts or leave. I think this should be done with the government. And that is what I will put to the TDs. It might fall on deaf ears but I think more people have to start taking action against the way the country is going and not let these people WE chose to put in power do what they like and continue to bring the country down while they get paid thousands to do it!!!!

-Sorry if this is slightly off topic!!:o

And I just want to add - Everyone should be doing this. No point of complaining on here. Send your letters. Tell them you won't vote for their party in the next election. I have no real interest in politics but since coming home, this government and what they are getting away with is really p*ssing me off!!!!

Definate +1!!

dlofnep wrote: »

Ban fags altogether. There is not one good reason for them to be legal.

I say this as an ex-smoker! I quit when the smoking ban came in. Why? Money, health, happyness!

If you ban smokes (i too being an ex smoker) it would cause mayhem and would basically be imported illegally.. Imagine a country of people on legal heroin and then making it illegal. It'd be public outcry, increased smuggling etc.

While i gave up smoking i have not benefited from not paying tax because i now pay a hefty amount of motor tax on my lil 1.3!!

off/on topic i know..

dlofnep

fredzer wrote: »

Congrats! I'm having a smoke now... mmmm flavour country!:D

Reformed smoker logic makes me laugh, so lets ban everything that doesn't have a 'good reason to be legal.'

Yes, and rightfully so. I quit because I saw no benefit in smoking. All I saw was my inability to kick a mental habit. Because after 2 weeks, that's all it is.

Smoking kills millions every year across the world. It causes immense health problems. It feeds the pockets of the greedy tobacco companies and the Government.

But hey, what do I care. Smoke til your heart's content boss!

ejmaztec

If everybody stopped smoking, the government would legalise heroin and tax that instead. If the government were that concerned with people's health, they would strive to put that ahead of all other matters, instead of under-funding the "service" that is already there.

Governments don't give a flying fuck about anyone except themselves, their cronies and the manufacturers of brown envelopes.

Guy:Incognito

ejmaztec wrote: »

If everybody stopped smoking, the government would legalise heroin and tax that instead. .

I'm assuming thats a joke? Or are you really deluded?

ejmaztec wrote: »

If the government were that concerned with people's health, they would strive to put that ahead of all other matters, instead of under-funding the "service" that is already there.
.

The health service isnt under funded and throwing more money at it wont solve anything. The people spending the money now will just have more to throw around. Properly organising where he money goes and what it gets sspent on is whats needed.

fredzer

dlofnep wrote: »

Yes, and rightfully so. I quit because I saw no benefit in smoking. All I saw was my inability to kick a mental habit. Because after 2 weeks, that's all it is.

Smoking kills millions every year across the world. It causes immense health problems. It feeds the pockets of the greedy tobacco companies and the Government.

But hey, what do I care. Smoke til your heart's content boss!

I agree it's probably the worst habit known to mankind and I applaud your decision to give up and your will power to stay off them. That was your choice, I choose to smoke some day I may choose to quit. A blanket ban would never work, I could just see little scrotes peddling cigarettes on street corners! Just wouldn't work now would it?

Kernel

Nanny state? Well, the country is a ****ehole that's going down the tube so I expect it will get worse before it gets better. Off licences closing etc. would not be a problem if the people of this country were more responsible citizens. If it weren't for gangs of skangers going around pissed and wrecking stuff/people on a daily basis as well as all the drunken behaviour from Irish people, then we wouldn't need the government to step in to try to do something. Unfortunately, we do not live in Germany.

As for the fags... yeah purely cash for the government - but they need that taxmoney to pay for all the methadone you know.

starn

dotsman wrote: »

If every smoker was to give up tomorrow, this country would be completely ****ered financially. I'm only a light smoker and have no (financial) problem paying the high taxes, but get pissed off with the whole "but smokers cost the health system so much" brigade. These people don't have a clue.

How exactly would the country be buggered completely. What is it the smokers cost the health system so much brigade. As a smoker are you not statitically more likely to have health issues then non smokers. Or do you know something the health insurance industry dosnt.

TBH what really pisses me off abot smoking is the smell and how it gets trapped in your clothes. Before the smoking ban came in I had to wah my hair when I got home because stench of ciggies smoke trapped in it

smellslikeshoes

StiffLitlemicky wrote: »

Bollox,
So with that attitude why does a major part of tax payments given to people that choose to have babies?

What should my tax money be spent to help people that chose to have children?
What should this money be paid no matter how rich or poor the parrents are?

It's a two way street mate and it's not all one way.

So with your logic Ireland should become a non sex state!;)

Thats a terrible argument, having kids is a natural thing and doesn't kill you, not to mention being important for the human race to exist , unlike putting poisons into you're body.

Kernel

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Thats a terrible argument, having kids is a natural thing and doesn't kill you, not to mention being important for the human race to exist , unlike putting poisons into you're body.

Yeah but the world is overpopulated, so smokers are helping out. Anyone having more than 2 kids, especially those that cant afford them are putting the state and the world under pressure and should be sterilised.

ejmaztec

Stekelly wrote: »

I'm assuming thats a joke? Or are you really deluded?

:rolleyes:

Stekelly wrote: »

The health service isnt under funded and throwing more money at it wont solve anything. The people spending the money now will just have more to throw around. Properly organising where he money goes and what it gets sspent on is whats needed.

When one is living two miles away from a hospital, but has to drive 80 miles for treatment, I think that it's a safe to say that under-funding exists. If there were not too many admin staff, and the money was spent on the medical side of the health service, the situation would be completely different.

sock.rocker*

put fags upto 15 euro. see who's hardcore.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

I'm quiet happy for smokers to smoke their lungs out at that price. If it wasn't for them, the govt would ould shift their tax-collecting attentions to alochol (ok, even more so that they do) or something else that I might actually use.

humanji

StiffLitlemicky wrote: »

Bollox,
So with that attitude why does a major part of tax payments given to people that choose to have babies?

What should my tax money be spent to help people that chose to have children?
What should this money be paid no matter how rich or poor the parrents are?

It's a two way street mate and it's not all one way.

So with your logic Ireland should become a non sex state!;)

More babies means more people working in Ireland and paying taxes to the government. Babies are a plus for this country. Smokers are not.

Stabshauptmann

pithater1 wrote: »

Apparently it is illegal to sell smokes for less than €7.14 in this banana republic as to sell them for less will encourage people to start smoking.:mad:

I cant wait for the budget, hope it goes up to an even €10

JJ6000

NExt general election, the party that will get my vote is the one that proposes to extend pub & off licence closing hours.

The whole "war on alcohol" thing is driving me mad. THe governement is systematically destroying the pub-culture in this country.

WHen I go out, I usually have a few drinks at home with friends and may not reach the pub until midnight. THat gives me a measly 2.5 hours to socialise & enjoy Dublins nightlife?? 2.5 hours!!?? If that is not a nanny state, I dont know what is.

Believe me, these ridiculous closing hours do more harm than good. All it means is that 10,000 people spill onto the street all at once (instead of trickling out of pubs as the night goes on). It means instead of leaving the club when they are tired and actually want to go to bed, we are forced out, full of energy and instead of jumping straight into a taxi home we hang around on the street outside the pub or club/go to take-aways (where many fights start). It forces people to binge drink when they realise at 01.30 that they only have an hours drinking left (cue "panic-drinking", shots at the bar etc). These incredibly inebriated people then simply get thrown out onto the street where they often either start fights or injure themselves in some other way. Extended opening hours = people drink slower as they realise they have all night to enjoy themselves. Restricted closing hours = people drink MUCH faster as they realise their night is very short lived.

For a country that prides itself on it's pub culture, the governement sure are doing a good job of destroying it. I have been too many cities around the world and I can say in all honesty that Ireland is pretty much the worst when it somes to government constraints on night socialising.

ANy politician proposing to change these laws will certainly get my vote.

DublinWriter

dlofnep wrote: »

Ban fags altogether. There is not one good reason for them to be legal.

Ban non-smokers! They live longer and are more of a drain on the pensions and healthcare systems.

Stabshauptmann

JJ6000 wrote: »

THe governement is systematically destroying the pub-culture in this country.

A step in the right direction, now all we need is something to replace it with

If that is not a nanny state, I dont know what is.

Fascism, Communism, Theocracy, Despotism. Social policies are not the most restrictive style of governance

All it means is that 10,000 people spill onto the street all at once (instead of trickling out of pubs as the night goes on)

not nearly as harmful as lobbyists claim - violence is not epidemic and a concentrated stream of people going home is the only way the night links would work. We would need a far better / more expensive public transport system otherwise.

and it forces people to binge drink when they realise at 01.30 that they only have an hours drinking left (cue "panic-drinking"). Extended opening hours = people drink slower as they realise they have all night to enjoy themselves. REstricted closing hours = people drink MUCH faster as they realise their night is very short lived.

In theory. But in my own experience when people have all day to drink - college, holidays, football matches, house-parties, etc they still get langered at the same pace.

For a country that prides itself on it's pub culture

No we dont, thats the point prole

I have been too many cities around the world and I can say in all honesty that Ireland is pretty much the worst when it somes to government constraints on night socialising.

I dont understand how you've been to too many cities - the point makes no sense.

But of the 20 or so countries Ive been to Id say we have very lenient police (Ive been picked up a few times but never charged), bouncers (Ive been going to pubs and clubs since I was 15 - and anyone on the town last night will know that thats true of the younger generation too) and public attitude to D&D (nobody bats an eyelid at public urination or vomiting).

starflake

They should ban alcohol and cigarettes. I honestly dont see what benefit either are to anyone.

Mossy Monk

I agree. Ban alcohol. It causes a lot of problems.

Quazzie

starflake wrote: »

They should ban alcohol and cigarettes. I honestly dont see what benefit either are to anyone.

Without alcohol there will be a lot of frustrated ugly wimmens

starflake

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

Without alcohol there will be a lot of frustrated ugly wimmens

and men.... ban the whole lot. let people live as people. not ask drunks.... which is definately not attractive. If people cant handle a few drinks without getting polluted let it be banned