Will cigarette taxes stop people from smoking?

I can't believe half of what I'm reading here!

First off, we, as Americans have a right to smoke. If we want to, we can, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I'm a smoker, have been for 15 years. No one twisted my arm to do that. It was my choice, and I have to live with that. Now, before any of you anti-smokers come at me, I've heard it all before, and you know what? I don't care. It was my choice, and it still is my choice to continue to smoke.

As for the taxes? It doesn't matter how high they hike the prices of cigarettes, smokers will still pay the cost to have them. It's that simple. We may not buy the name brand as much, but we'll still smoke.

Banning in public places? Sure. Some of that I can see. Resturants and whatnot, but bars? C'mon! More than half the people that go into drinking establishments smoke! There goes half the buisness right there!

Tax all you want, makes no difference to me. I'll still be a smoker. If you don't like it, to bad. Go stand somewhere else.

Originally posted by Valdimer


First off, we, as Americans have a right to smoke. If we want to, we can, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I'm a smoker, have been for 15 years. No one twisted my arm to do that. It was my choice, and I have to live with that. Now, before any of you anti-smokers come at me, I've heard it all before, and you know what? I don't care. It was my choice, and it still is my choice to continue to smoke.

It is true that as americans we have the right to smoke and do as we want. If you did't care about how high taxes get then you would't be complaining. Who ever wants to smoke, smoke. But then dont complain about the taxes if you still will pay anything.

Originally posted by Valdimer


As for the taxes? It doesn't matter how high they hike the prices of cigarettes, smokers will still pay the cost to have them. It's that simple. We may not buy the name brand as much, but we'll still smoke.

Who said I was complaining?

[edit on 21-5-2007 by Valdimer]

Originally posted by mhector3500
It is true that as americans we have the right to smoke and do as we want. If you did't care about how high taxes get then you would't be complaining. Who ever wants to smoke, smoke. But then dont complain about the taxes if you still will pay anything.

I'll complain about taxes all I freaking want! Why should I be taxed more because I indulge in a habit that you don't? Why should I be subject to excessive taxation? Because I do something the government deems unhealthy? Because I inconvience someone around me while smoking?
(and before you all go off on that statement, I am considerate of those non-smokers around me, and will move if requested)

The fact of the matter is that

1. Yes, tax smokers more and we will continue to smoke.
2. It's not fair, nor fundamentally correct to tax smokers to illicit them to stop smoking. This is ecomonic control and is in violation with smokers free rights.
3. Higher Taxes to support cheaper, better healthcare? Sure, no problem.
3a. Tax me for better healthcare - I want Accountability for my money, and I want to see that money go to Healthcare and only healthcare.

This is how I stand, and I think the majority of smokers on this thread will agree.

Agreed zeeon.


(Mind you, I'm not complaining so much of the taxes. Here in Tennessee, it's not so bad, but in my home state of Michigan, it's outrageous! What my major stink is, is the fact that people think they can tell me what I can and cannot do.)

If the money I spend on cigarettes via taxes goes to Health Care, or things that our country actually needs, I have no problem paying the cost, tax away. However, if my money is not accountable, give it back, or lower the cost.

um no..i dont smoke ciggies but i know a lot who do and i am quite sure in their habit of smoking it wont matter tothem maybe they will just smoke less? nah i think peope should buy tobacco and roll it themselves i have a few friends who do that hahaha its way cheaper!! kinda harsh..i wish they would quit though

So exactly where will the hospitals and medical groups get there funding from if people stop smoking? Not many programs especially in social medicine are EVER stopped when there funding "Source" washes up...

I was just thinking about this. As an X - smoker All I can say is- I smoked no matter what the price.

In NYC the price has been between 6.50 and 8.00 a pack over the last 3 years.

I just did the math, After 3 years I've saved $7,600 give or take a couple of bucks. I put a quarter in a jar on my desk for each day I have not smoked, July 14 will be three years.

On that day, I make out a check to the american cancer society for the amount that is in the jar. It's not a lot, about $100 but, it's something.

I live in Canada and up here the prices for cigarretes, are anywhere from 6.50 to 10 bucks canadian. Unfortunatly it doesn't stop people from sucking on the cancer sticks, but it certainly impacts the number of sticks they smoke a day, whereas before a hardcore smoker would smoke a pack a day, now he'll make it last 2 or maybe 3 days, it's the same with teens and everybody else they slow down the consumption of cigarretes smoked a day, but it's only a very small percent that actually quit the habit because of the high price.

Cigarettes are already taxed highly, and have been taxed highly, and it sure as hell has not cut smoking. Its pure nonsense.

Originally posted by Valdimer


If the money I spend on cigarettes via taxes goes to Health Care, or things that our country actually needs, I have no problem paying the cost, tax away. However, if my money is not accountable, give it back, or lower the cost.

i agreed with this, because i also find it unfair for the government to use the tax money for somthing else that will not help Health care, and if that is the case i also think that they should cut the tax.

Nice Point.

Originally posted by Implosion
addressing the OP, Taxation might stop some people from smoking, but surely not all. Just take a look at Britain.

Yup. I think tax on tobacco here is somewere between 70 & 80%. A few people will quit, but it won't have that much effect. However, tobacco smuggling is a growing industry - if the govt raises the tax too much, people will just get it some other way and they'll lose revenue in the end, only not the way they planned to.

Why would anyone pay the tax when all the have to do it grow it in their own yard?
What I want to know is why tax not being put on the oil company and the car makers? The nasty crap coming out of the backs of cars is far more toxic then anything coming off a cigarettes. I can't walk or ride my bike anywhere without being gassed to death. Where are my rights to breath clean air? I walked past the local QT last night the price of gas was 3.40$, and you know what people still was pulling up to buy it. Raising the price of a death dealing product will not stop people from buying it. The only thing that will stop them is by banning them all together. Yeah you read what I typed right. BAN CARS, TRUCKS, OIL, GAS, CIGARETTES, BAN THEM ALL. I want to breath fresh clean air again. I don't want to die from the crap those products put into the air. Who will pay my health bills for something I don't even do or have? I can't even open my window without being gassed to death. Where are my rights?

Originally posted by Sistinas
BAN CARS, TRUCKS, OIL, GAS, CIGARETTES, BAN THEM ALL. I want to breath fresh clean air again. I don't want to die from the crap those products put into the air. Who will pay my health bills for something I don't even do or have? I can't even open my window without being gassed to death. Where are my rights?

u know.. there are PLE?NTY of rural areas where the air is not that bad... there are PLENTY of places you could move too... maybe instead of all the non smokers saying OH NO DONT SMOKE... the NONSMOKERS could do something about it and LEAVE THE AREA... take care of the problem themselves...

and prices wont affect it at all... look at how many kids smoke marijuana... a pack of cigarettes is only $4 here... a bag of pot is $50..... more kids in this area smoke pot than cigarettes... u really think money will stop any of that?

Originally posted by Sad Lil Alex
u know.. there are PLE?NTY of rural areas where the air is not that bad... there are PLENTY of places you could move too... maybe instead of all the non smokers saying OH NO DONT SMOKE... the NONSMOKERS could do something about it and LEAVE THE AREA... take care of the problem themselves...

Why should a none smoker move because he's getting poisoned by smokers?

When it comes to smokers it's clear and simple, they have 0 right to tell none smokers what to do, ZERO.

Yes it's the way it is and there is no way around that.

You are the one who's doing harm to the planet to your self and to others by smoking cigarettes.

You are the one who's doing the action therefor you are the one who has 0 privileges above others.

If you are a smoker and you think none smokers should be the ones to modify their lives just so they don't get infested by your smoke, you are a hypocrite of the worst kind.

End of rant.

[edit on 21-5-2007 by selfless]

I think the U.S. is getting close to the tactics of Nazi Germany, with the smoking issue. Hitler hated smoking and did everything under his power to put a stop to it. The first and obvious thing he did was to over tax its use. Sound familiar?

Here's to all the anti-smoking Nazi's!

constitutionalistnc.tripod.com...

In Nazi Germany, for instance, abstinence from tobacco was a "national socialist duty" (Hitler gave a gold watch to associates who quit the habit, though this didn't stop them lighting up in the Berlin bunker once they heard the Fuhrer had committed suicide). Armed with such senior sanction -- loyally, Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler banned SS men from smoking, though not shooting, on duty, and Propaganda Minister Joseph Gobbels was obliged to hide his ciggie whenever he was filmed -- anti-tobacco activists succeeded in banning smoking from government offices, civic transport, university campuses, rest homes, post offices, many restaurants and bars, hospital grounds and workplaces. Tobacco taxes were raised, unsupervised cigarette vending machines were banned, and there were calls for a ban on smoking while driving.

Thanks to the Ministry of Science and Education, and the Reich Health Office, posters were produced depicting smoking as the typically despicable habit of Jews, jazz musicians, Gypsies, Indians, homosexuals, blacks, communists, capitalists, cripples, intellectuals and harlots. Zealous lobbyists descended into the schools, terrifying children with tales of impotence and racial impurity.

Does any of this sound familar?

Back in 1977, a quarter ounce of Grade A pot cost $5.00...a half ounce was $10.00.
Now, a quarter ounce of Grade A pot cost $125.00...a half ounce cost $250.00.
Humans and their greed...

Weed doesn't even contain the addictive properties of nicotine in cigarettes, yet people are still willing to fork out $250.00 for a bag to puff on.

If they raised a pack of cigarettes to $50.00 people would still buy it. Actually, I think at that point you'd see alot of people growing tobacco in their homes and backyards.

I think before my life's over I hope I actually get to see people get busted for possessing tobacco.

Smoking cigarettes is rancid, I say raise the taxes through the roof. And pay the high price for not breaking your self-destructive addiction.

Also for people who smoke, things will get more expensive than they thought. According to a health director, problems caused by cigarettes, such as heart and ling disease, lead to higher medical costs. By one calculation, each package of cigarettes a person smokes can result in $7.18 in future health-care costs.

[edit on 21-5-2007 by mhector3500]

Originally posted by RRconservative
I think the U.S. is getting close to the tactics of Nazi Germany, with the smoking issue. Hitler hated smoking and did everything under his power to put a stop to it. The first and obvious thing he did was to over tax its use. Sound familiar?

Here's to all the anti-smoking Nazi's!

Warning: The following contains humor. If you don't realise that then, no it really does not.

I think we must borrow a tactic then. Final solution style. Kill all the non-smokers, it ends unemployment, ends peak oil, ends, inflation, reduces incompetence by government, and most importantly it ends the all the whining and complaining from people that have nothing better to *ahem* bish about.

Nope minds made up, only way to stop it is to kill them all. Be a good sport about it and volunteer for a humane quick death. Those that have to be round up will die of suffication by pumping in stale cigarette smoke until no breathable oxygen is left. Actually, not a bad way for getting rid of the incompetent government officials either.

Good old Adolph, hated cigarettes and loved *ahem* "water sports". So maybe that is the answer. Next time someone starts in on the old anti-smoking tripe just use follow it to the obvious conclusion: whip it out and releave yourself. You might just make a friend...then kill them.

Originally posted by Ahabstar

Originally posted by RRconservative
I think the U.S. is getting close to the tactics of Nazi Germany, with the smoking issue. Hitler hated smoking and did everything under his power to put a stop to it. The first and obvious thing he did was to over tax its use. Sound familiar?

Here's to all the anti-smoking Nazi's!

Warning: The following contains humor. If you don't realise that then, no it really does not.

I think we must borrow a tactic then. Final solution style. Kill all the non-smokers, it ends unemployment, ends peak oil, ends, inflation, reduces incompetence by government, and most importantly it ends the all the whining and complaining from people that have nothing better to *ahem* bish about.

Nope minds made up, only way to stop it is to kill them all. Be a good sport about it and volunteer for a humane quick death. Those that have to be round up will die of suffication by pumping in stale cigarette smoke until no breathable oxygen is left. Actually, not a bad way for getting rid of the incompetent government officials either.

Good old Adolph, hated cigarettes and loved *ahem* "water sports". So maybe that is the answer. Next time someone starts in on the old anti-smoking tripe just use follow it to the obvious conclusion: whip it out and releave yourself. You might just make a friend...then kill them.

What you just posted makes absolutely no sense???

If we are going to borrow at tactic from the Nazi's, it would entail the killing of all smokers...not non-smokers. Didn't you read my post that you are commenting on?

Where did the "watersports" come from??? Do you have a link for that???

You know what I feel good about? I can actually call someone an Anti-Smoking Nazi, and know that it is based in fact!

[edit on 21-5-2007 by RRconservative]