What are peoples thoughts on this.
As a smoker, i have no issue with the increase, i choose to smoke & am aware of the health risk, we as smokers hamper our health & congest the health system.
I’ve been OS for the last 4 months in countries were smokes are around $3aud a pack & my smoking increased dramatically.
Is this 25% increase too much though? Is this blatant money generating under the guise of helping people quit?
This increase has seriously made me consider quitting, maybe i’ll do heroine instead lol. Even though i have disposable income to spend on ciggies i do the math & the satisfaction just isn’t worth it.
However with the majority of smokers being in the lower socio economic community, what will this lead to?
I may be generalising but i doubt they will quit, if anything they will take up methods similar to drug addicts to get there fix, such as theft.
the black market will also thrive with smuggled smokes coming in.
Another thing, does anyone know if taxes are placed on products such as Niccorette &/or if they too are subject to the tax increase. Also if the government is so keen on people quitting why don’t they (or should they) subsidise these products &/or quit rehabilitation services.
Discuss?
