Smoking, a different approach

[flappist]

Yet again there is a furore from some sections of society over cigarettes.
The anti smokers hate them and wnat them banned.
The smokers feel they are being persecuted and are not happy about it.
Smoking is bad for you but then so are lots of things and it is YOUR life not someone elses.

The tiny brains running the country have only one solution for everything, TAX.

Road tax will stop speeding and save lives
Alcopop tax will stop drinking and save lives.
Smoke tax will stop smoking and save live.

These incredibly clever plans all have three things in common. The don't stop what they are supposed to stop, they don't save lives but they DO make money for the government to waste.

The biggest problem is that smoking is addictive and giving it up is very difficult (but not as difficult as the goverment giving up its "new tax" addiction).

So here is the "Flappist plan" to control smoking.

As of 1 Jan 2011 cigarettes etc become a S4 drug.

For the next 12 months any adult can go to their doctor and apply for a "smokers license" that will allow them to buy as many cigs or whatever as they like from pharmacies which will be the only place you can get them.

All the excess tax is removed and the price of smokes goes back to what it is in the free world, $3-5 per packet.

As of 1 Jan 2012 no new licenses are given out except on exceptional circumstances (e.g. smoker migrates) so young kids can't ever take up smoking, never get addicted and 40 years from now there are no smokers at all.

Tourists etc. who visit here declare thet they are smokers at immigration have their passport tagged for the duration of their stay and can buy cigs from the pharmacies.

Cigarette sales are recorded against the license and if you decide to give up incentives could be made available.

AS cigs are now a drug, doing naughty things with cigs (e.g. supplying kids or whatever) will attract the same penalties as other drug offences.

So the bottom line:

Pros:
Smokers are no longer being persecuted.
No new smokers after 2011 so the anti-smokers are happy (well they are never happy but slightly less angry)
Smokers are not being overly taxed leaving money for others things.

Cons:
Less tax income for GovCo
Diminishing market for tobacco industry
Cigs need to be bought from pharmacies not servos, pubs or corner stores.
It will take many years to finally end smoking.

So what do you think of the Flappist plan?