tobacco tax increase

[tracemarissa]

This country has this big idea of increasing the price of cigarettes to decrease the amount of people who smoke. My question is "why don't they increase the price of alcohol?" Do you ever hear of anyone smoking who wrecks and kills familys..but you do hear a lot about drunk drivers who either kill innocent people or them selfs in car accidents. My point is that they are increasing the wrong thing....raise alcohol not tobacco...

[mrisha]

Hmmm..... It also depends on what else is in those cigarettes that people are smoking that could also cause them to kill others.

I don't believe adding additional taxes on either alcohol or cigarettes will stop people being hurt.  Remember humans are really stupid and for whatever reason they are not going to stop smoking or drinking.

[MikaylasMama73]

I think they are just trying to get people to quit smoking because it is so bad for your health.. But I also dont think it matters how much they raise the taxes people well still smoke and or drink...

[nicatnite7777]

I think you have a good point there but smoking does kill people just not instantly long term it does. but they should raise the price of alcohol  not cigs i mean the smokers cant pay for every thing we cant even smoke in any bar/resteraunt anymore and there are parks that we cant even smoke in well thats how it is in minnesota anyhow if you can drink in a bar you should be allowed to smoke too

[firefly001]

They should raise both. Over here smokers are very inconsiderate, they smoke in the lines, in front of clinics,hospitals, train subways etc. If you ask them to kindly stop they get really rude. We were on the subway waiting for the train and this man lites up a cig with my baby sis standing right there. When we moved to the other side to avoid his smoke, he moves to our area, forcing us to move somewhere else. Just because  someone wants to die slowly doesn't mean others would like to join in on the fun. I don't know what people get in smoking, and you can tell who smokes because the smell clings to them like they actually have the cig in hand at the very moment. And those who know how to get rid of the after smell, you can still tell they smoke by their nails and teeth. There's nothing wrong with having a drink but drinking until you're hangover, or drinking and then going behind a wheel, I don't get either. I mean what's the end result, wake up in the morning with a headache, and loss of memory or even worse getting into an accident all in the name of having a good time. Drunk drivers I would just lock them up and throw away the keys.

[home_teachin]

I agree they should first tax the things that are bad for people and unnecessary. Better cigarettes than food or gas. But I think that should include more than smoking, tax alcohol, junk food , pop, etc. Or just legalize weed and build a surplus.

[liljp617]

The health and overall costs of people smoking is greater than the health and overall costs of people drinking alcohol.

Not to mention talks of alcohol tax increases have been had in Congress multiple times...it's not like they're completely clueless.  It just takes time to build up a lobby of any sort.

[PMZ908]

why increasing the price of anything? booze and smoke already cost to much as it is. its all 

[discardedheart]

why increasing the price of anything? booze and smoke already cost to much as it is. its all 

um, chya.
 

[liljp617]

why increasing the price of anything? booze and smoke already cost to much as it is. its all 

They're useless substances that do nothing but cause destruction, illness, and death.

[ducky74]

I dont think that they should increase the tax but there should be smoking only zones where ppl are allowed to smoke if they smoke out of those zones then give them a ticket or something..