I've paid an only slightly above zero amount of attention to the smoking ban story but has anyone asked how exactly the hole in the tax revenue is going to be plugged?
@fkamiah17 Plausibly, as fewer people smoke, the revenue will taper off - and be matched by saving from the reduction in the costs of treating people who frequently are in no position to earn money to pay taxes.
@fkamiah17@Wen the biggest issue is you cannot just 'ban' an addictive substance, and no matter what they tell you, cigarrettes are addictive to most users.
Otherwise heroin being banned would mean no heroin.
@Thebratdragon@fkamiah17 True, but cigarettes are sold openly, and the legislation will taper off use and hopefully prevent additction in many if not all people.
@Wen@Thebratdragon Illegal cigarettes are also sold pretty openly. Obviously not in every corner shop but if you're a smoker, they're pretty easy to find. Two of my neighbours who smoke haven't paid full price for a packet of cigarettes for about 15 years.
@fkamiah17@Thebratdragon True, however smoking ‘socially’ is not easy to conceal and possibly if they had not become addicted (early probably?) then this would not be a problem?
@Wen@Thebratdragon You could say the same about other illegal drugs, whose consumption if anything has risen in my lifetime. People who want to will find a source. Also, assuming a person would call the police if they saw someone smoking is a bit of a stretch, so concealment isn't really a factor.
@fkamiah17 they'll do it by taxing the very wealthy who currently dodge their share of taxation through convoluted offshore arrangements.
Just joking.
They'll tax socks, or something. #Fannies
@fkamiah17 It's a good question. You'd definitely save a lot of money on the NHS as people don't need treatment for smoking-related diseases, though on the other hand you might end up spending more on pensions. I don't know what the net effect of those would be.
Maybe they're not going to worry about the pensions thing given that the people affected won't be drawing their pension for at least another 50 years.
@statsguy You think there'll be a state pension in 50 years? 😂
It's the first thing that goes up in price at every budget and, of course, it's not just the products themselves but the supporting industry which will be affected.
This is interesting (if a bit out of date) https://fullfact.org/economy/does-smoking-cost-much-it-makes-treasury/
@Roadwarrior29@fkamiah17 From next April what cars will have no road tax? Currently for evs are £0 but will be charged next year? In fact, as many are over £40k they will be paying road tax in the luxury bracket. Much cheaper in £ to get a low emissions diesel with road tax of £30.
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