Would you pay 20 quid for a packet of cigarettes?

eviltimeban

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/reilly-calls-for-packet-of-20-cigarettes-to-cost-20-1.1846596

I probably would, but I'd smoke far less.

Or buy them in bulk at the duty free.

Conmaicne Mara

No, I don't smoke

Sleepy

Nope, I'd just take a quarterly return trip to Eastern Europe on a cheap flight to stock up.

Irishcrx

Nah I'd just quit, tbh I wouldn't even pay €10 for a pack I smoke Amber leaf and it's €5.50 couldn't stomach 10 quid.

This whole no branding packaging thing is a farce as well, won't stop anybody smoking in the slightest just a marketing ploy to be 'seen to be seen' doing something about the 'the issue' if they wanted people to stop smoking stop beating around the bush and ban them outright I dare ya.

The ammount they'd loose in tax they'd have BOD on TV smoking his brains out telling you how great they are, they'd be throwing them off open top buses at children to get you back on them.

The government need smokers and their tax money. Anything else is a lie.

Captain Chaos

I reckon you'd have to put them to €50 for people to stop but the you'd have a huge black market and the government would be missing out on a ton of revenue and tax the crap out of something else like drink.

jimgoose

Not on your nelly. Be the perfect excuse to pop over to Budapest on the Air of Ryan every so often for a few boxes of tabackey and a spot of lunch amid the post-Soviet whimsy. I wonder would the good Minister be able to do similar regarding his hamburgers. :cool:

PizzamanIRL

No i'm not a gobsheet.

Myrddin

Another 'fix a problem tax'. Funny how all these 'solutions' involve generating revenue.

Fred Swanson

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KungPao

Well I spend 4.99 a week on e-juice, so probably won't be buying packs of cigs any time soon.

Don't how people hand over 10 bones for a measly 20 fags, never mind €20.

Fred Swanson

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Caliden

22% of the population smokes?

That's a **** load of people considering that figure includes children.

KungPao

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Please no. The witch hunt for e-cigs make me very angry as it is.

murphyebass

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Thats just a matter of time imo. They tax fuel, fags and booze so highly as people will continue to buy them.
E Fags are such an obvious choice to tax highly. Just not as highly as proper fags so people still have a reason to quit (other than the whole health side of things obviosuly).

On the flip side I wouldnt be surprise if the goverment decided to close a load of those new efag shops similarly to the way they closed the herb shops recently. I know they're not legal highs but the goverment do seem to be completely petrified of the percieved unknown health dangers with them.

From what bit of reading I've done there doesnt semwhat damage if any they actually do. So it'd be typical of our lot to put the cart before the horse.

Personally neither bother me as I dont smoke but it'll be a big news story either way.

galwayredgirl

eviltimeban wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/reilly-calls-for-packet-of-20-cigarettes-to-cost-20-1.1846596

I probably would, but I'd smoke far less.

Or buy them in bulk at the duty free.

Reilly really is a one trick pony. He is obsessed with cigarettes while all around him the health service is in a shambles. If people want to smoke then that is their business. Nanny stateism gone mad! :mad:

DublinWriter

murphyebass wrote: »

On the flip side I wouldnt be surprise if the goverment decided to close a load of those new efag shops similarly to the way they closed the herb shops recently. I know they're not legal highs but the goverment do seem to be completely petrified of the percieved unknown health dangers loss of tax revenue with them.

FIFU.

Myrddin

murphyebass wrote: »

I know they're not legal highs but the goverment do seem to be completely petrified of the percieved unknown health dangers with them a lot of people switching over to ecigs & thus the lose in traditional cigarette tax/revenue.

Fixed that for you. If a government had sincere concerns about health effects, cigarettes would be illegal (well, the ads do tell us one in every two smokers will die of a smoking related disease...how dangerous do things have to be?). But in reality, the only real concerns are revenue related. Ecigs will 100% be made a lot more expensive, all in the name of protecting us (for the record, I'm a non smoker & don't use ecigs).

I Heart Internet

Myrddin wrote: »

Another 'fix a problem tax'. Funny how all these 'solutions' involve generating revenue.

These are fairly standard, internationally recognised, tools of public policy. If you raise taxes on "problems" (unhealthy habits, polluting activities) you can (in theory) reduce taxes on good things (starting businesses, creting jobs, etc). That's the theory.

Caliden

galwayredgirl wrote: »

Reilly really is a one trick pony. He is obsessed with cigarettes while all around him the health service is in a shambles. If people want to smoke then that is their business. Nanny stateism gone mad! :mad:

To be fair, smokers cost the state in terms of health care.

If 22% of the population smoke and 1 in 2 smokers die of a smoke related disease then would it be safe to say that 10% of the population eventually reach hospital purely because they smoke?

I've nothing against smokers but at the end of the day they cost the health service money so getting the cost back via taxation from the source makes sense to me.

murphyebass

Myrddin wrote: »

Fixed that for you. If a government had sincere concerns about health effects, cigarettes would be illegal (well, the ads do tell us one in every two smokers will die of a smoking related disease...how dangerous do things have to be?). But in reality, the only real concerns are revenue related. Ecigs will 100% be made a lot more expensive, all in the name of protecting us (for the record, I'm a non smoker & don't use ecigs).

Yeah your probably right but i doubt they'd come out and say it that way though.

Myrddin

I Heart Internet wrote: »

These are fairly standard, internationally recognised, tools of public policy. If you raise taxes on "problems" (unhealthy habits, polluting activities) you can (in theory) reduce taxes on good things (starting businesses, creting jobs, etc). That's the theory.

I'm sure the lads in the Dail are flat out looking at ways to reduce taxes on those good things.

petronius

20euro a pack of cigarettes doubling the price
you have to clamp down on the black market
but anything which reduces smoking is a positive for people and society
anything which helps people give up is a positive
reduce the cost of nicotine patches and gum

murphyebass

DublinWriter wrote: »

FIFU.

I'm obviosuly old / not down with the kids but what does FIFU mean?

I even googled it to no avail.

folan

i would, depending on the quality and quantity and LSD content

The Pheasant2

So stupid...does that fat idiot not understand simple economics? People will just switch to black market cigs which are probably more unhealthy AND they'll need to spend more on policing the counterfeit cigarettes.

jimgoose

Caliden wrote: »

...at the end of the day they cost the health service money so getting the cost back via taxation from the source makes sense to me.

Does the Laffer Curve make sense to you? It would appear no-one in Gummint has heard of it! :pac:

Montroseee

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

So stupid...does that fat idiot not understand simple economics? People will just switch to black market cigs which are probably more unhealthy AND they'll need to spend more on policing the counterfeit cigarettes.

Anyone who switches to solely smoking black market cigarettes needs their head examined.

I Heart Internet

murphyebass wrote: »

I'm obviosuly old / not down with the kids but what does FIFU mean?

I even googled it to no avail.

Fixed It For You, I think.

OldNotWIse

No. Then again I wouldn't pay 9.60 for one either. Buy them outside Ireland. Simple.

Elmo

I think they should give cigarettes out for free, let the 22% that smoke die and save some health money. Also I'd suggest making all fatty foods free, should kill off a few more, and alcohol free, feck it may as well die happy Cocaine for All.

galwayredgirl

Caliden wrote: »

To be fair, smokers cost the state in terms of health care.

If 22% of the population smoke and 1 in 2 smokers die of a smoke related disease then would it be safe to say that 10% of the population eventually reach hospital purely because they smoke?

I've nothing against smokers but at the end of the day they cost the health service money so getting the cost back via taxation from the source makes sense to me.

Inefficient management in the HSE costs a lot more! Too many overpaid pen pushers.

DublinWriter

Caliden wrote: »

To be fair, smokers cost the state in terms of health care.

Nope, we don't.

Go find an actuary and ask him/her all about this.

Non-smokers cost the state more through added life longevity.

90% of the purchase cost of a packet of 20 (about €9.50) goes to the government.

Diseases due to smoking tend to be fatal and usually result in death within a year of symptoms presenting.

Smokers die younger, usually from lung cancer.

Non-smokers die older, potentially from cancer.

OldNotWIse

Caliden wrote: »

To be fair, smokers cost the state in terms of health care.

If 22% of the population smoke and 1 in 2 smokers die of a smoke related disease then would it be safe to say that 10% of the population eventually reach hospital purely because they smoke?

I've nothing against smokers but at the end of the day they cost the health service money so getting the cost back via taxation from the source makes sense to me.

So do fat people (obesity related illness) and drinkers. It's only fashionable to target smokers though.

The Pheasant2

Montroseee wrote: »

Anyone who switches to solely smoking black market cigarettes needs their head examined.

Well if they raise the price to €20 it'll most certainly occur...these people are addicted, of course they'll smoke counterfeits over legit cigs if there's no viable alternative

jimgoose

Caliden wrote: »

...smokers cost the state...

DublinWriter wrote: »

...Non-smokers cost the state...

OldNotWIse wrote: »

So do fat people (obesity related illness) and drinkers...

OK, so what I'm hearing is: in short, People are a Problem! :pac::pac::pac:

Buzz Killington the third

People will switch to rolling tobacco.

folan

Montroseee wrote: »

Anyone who switches to solely smoking black market cigarettes needs their head examined.

Thanks god theres no drug problem in ireland.

Caliden

OldNotWIse wrote: »

So do fat people (obesity related illness) and drinkers. It's only fashionable to target smokers though.

Sugar tax is on it's way and the duty on drink is increased in most budgets so they're not getting off scott free.

Cigarettes are a luxury (as are sugary foods/alcohol) so it's up to the person whether or not they can justify the money they spend on their luxury.

Caliden

jimgoose wrote: »

OK, so what I'm hearing is: in short, People are a Problem! :pac::pac::pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owI7DOeO_yg

OldNotWIse

jimgoose wrote: »

OK, so what I'm hearing is: in short, People are a Problem! :pac::pac::pac:

Finally! Someone not afraid to call the spade a spade People are a huge problem on this planet. Time we were extinguished. Smelly, self-serving, ignorant, selfish beasts that we are. Drinkin', smokin' and whorin' about the place. Time to nuke the petri dish and start again :P

jimgoose

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Finally! Someone not afraid to call the spade a spade People are a huge problem on this planet. Time we were extinguished. Smelly, self-serving, ignorant, selfish beasts that we are. Drinkin', smokin' and whorin' about the place. Time to nuke the petri dish and start again :P

Hould an, shtall the digger there until I'm finished riding my pair of galloping hoors around the kitchen. :cool:

Oink

So let me think for a sec.

The gubinment raises the price of fags to a mad level, and the aim is to put people off smoking.

So when Dublin Bus raises ticket prices to the same batsh1t-crazy level...

The_Pretender

Montroseee wrote: »

Anyone who switches to solely smoking black market cigarettes needs their head examined.

Are you serious?

If you can take a plane ride a few times a year and make savings of hundreds/thousands on cigarettes why wouldn't you? Nothing wrong with genuine black market cigarettes bar the fact that they are illegal. Counterfeit cigarettes however, couldn't pay me enough to smoke those things.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

jimgoose

The_Pretender wrote: »

Are you serious?

If you can take a plane ride a few times a year and make savings of hundreds/thousands on cigarettes why wouldn't you? Nothing wrong with black market cigarettes bar the fact that they are illegal. Counterfeit cigarettes however, couldn't pay me enough to smoke those things.

Black-market cigarettes are not necessarily the same thing as doing a fag-run to the Continong. The latter is merely smuggling. Gram-pappy ran the whiskey in a big-block Dodge, and all that! :pac:

petronius

Oink wrote: »

So let me think for a sec.

The gubinment raises the price of fags to a mad level, and the aim is to put people off smoking.

So when Dublin Bus raises ticket prices to the same batsh1t-crazy level...

I agree raising prices on cigs to reduce usage
raising prices on stamps and dublin bus crazy......

jimgoose

Oink wrote: »

...So when Dublin Bus raises ticket prices to the same batsh1t-crazy level...

They're trying to encourage people to use the pedalling bi-cycles of course, so they'll be all sinewy and healthy and not thrown around the place in the hospitals all sick and annoying. Do try to keep up!! :P

efb

Elmo wrote: »

I think they should give cigarettes out for free, let the 22% that smoke die and save some health money. Also I'd suggest making all fatty foods free, should kill off a few more, and alcohol free, feck it may as well die happy Cocaine for All.

They don't just have one heart attack one day and die, they are a drain on the health system for years first

Norma_Desmond

galwayredgirl wrote: »

Reilly really is a one trick pony. He is obsessed with cigarettes while all around him the health service is in a shambles. If people want to smoke then that is their business. Nanny stateism gone mad! :mad:

It's just a smokescreen. At times I think they are just jostling for publicity, wanting to be seen doing something.
They're also using sections of the population seen as ''fair game'' for fodder (smokers, the unemployed, young people).

Seems like Ireland is turning into a country for the upper classes to live and for everyone else to struggle
(I know this comment is a bit off topic, but the country is such a joke at this stage).

Elmo

efb wrote: »

They don't just have one heart attack one day and die, they are a drain on the health system for years first

Yeah but eventually, and sure prescribe them some morphine. It's only during the good years, the high living, getting to A&E, back to some cocaine move on to heroin, fall asleep in a dust bin, find yourself on a barge down Dublin bay, try to swim back.... It won't be for everyone.

Grab All Association

Caliden wrote: »

To be fair, smokers cost the state in terms of health care.

If 22% of the population smoke and 1 in 2 smokers die of a smoke related disease then would it be safe to say that 10% of the population eventually reach hospital purely because they smoke?

I've nothing against smokers but at the end of the day they cost the health service money so getting the cost back via taxation from the source makes sense to me.

Oh please don't start this bull****. In 2012 the "evil" tobacco companies made €300 million on sales in Ireland meanwhile the Government made €1.3 billion. I think we smoker gave more considering the number of people dying in this country from cancer (and may i point out a lot of them non smokers) you can be sure most of that money went to other departments not health.