S Korean government doubles cigarette prices

[Bezkoshtovnya]

But you see, he has studied one smoker, so that clearly means there is no such thing as light or social smokers. He is the one with the expertise here.

Clearly we should all bow before Kefka's completely unfounded, logically unsupported, historically foolish ideas.

I mean, I know someone from Rwanda, and he is relatively wealthy. I am now an expert on the country, and can conclude that more than likely Rwanda is a relatively wealthy country.

[Atlanticatia]

Plain packaging more discourages people from starting to smoke, since people who already smoke won't really care. But then, the increased price will encourage smokers to quit smoking, since they won't be able to afford it as easily.

To a degree, raised prices are alright, but raising them a lot just seems like a dick move. Smoking is enjoyable, to an extent, and raising the prices too much just pisses people off. They're already pretty expensive here, average price is around 15 bucks Canadian.

That's understandable, but prices rose and warnings became more prominent because smoking was becoming such a big public health crisis. Habitual smoking has big costs ($$$$) for the health care system, so it's necessary to discourage it, even if it might be annoying. The number of habitual smokers is on the decline due to policies like that. The next public health crisis to combat is obesity, though, which has (in the US, atleast) outranked smoking as the most expensive health crisis and biggest killer.

[Ifreann]

There's nothing immoral about enacting a practical policy to achieve a social good. What is actually immoral would be to ban tobacco when better results would be achieved by taxation.

the results are not better, they are allowing a class of unscrupulous profiteering tobacco salespeople to make millions in the open without fear of legal sanction.

Kids are going to grow up thinking its ok to become a tobacco salesperson, make millions of dollars in the open while driving fancy cars and exploiting the poor and other addicts. It facilitates moral decay and exploitation. And the government gets a piece of it.

No wonder people are losing their faith in elected officials.

I wonder what you think a tobacco salesperson is.

[Empire of Narnia]

Finally S. Korea does something right. Cigarettes are evil and cause cancer.

[Flaxxony]

Wait... punishing the consumer and not the companies... not sitting right

[Solaray]

To a degree, raised prices are alright, but raising them a lot just seems like a dick move. Smoking is enjoyable, to an extent, and raising the prices too much just pisses people off. They're already pretty expensive here, average price is around 15 bucks Canadian.

That's understandable, but prices rose and warnings became more prominent because smoking was becoming such a big public health crisis. Habitual smoking has big costs ($$$$) for the health care system, so it's necessary to discourage it, even if it might be annoying. The number of habitual smokers is on the decline due to policies like that. The next public health crisis to combat is obesity, though, which has (in the US, atleast) outranked smoking as the most expensive health crisis and biggest killer.

On the bright side, the taxes from tobacco usually go to the health care systems, which helps balance out the cost.

[Geilinor]

It's fine if it encourages more people to quit.

[Wind in the Willows]

Bastards.

[Vladislavija]

Infected Mushroomm why wouldn't I be allowed to poison myself? I'm allowed to eat spoiled food if I want, why wouldn't I be allowed to chew tobacco?

[Threlizdun]

It's fine if it encourages more people to quit.

It will encourage more people to quit, but it will also place even more of an economic burden on the poor, causing them to have to spend even more money on drugs that could otherwise be being spent on essentials. If the problem with the added price is severe enough, it could lead to the development of a black market, allowing unregulated and potentially even more dangerous products to be sold and to quite likely promote the expansion of organized crime. Other government should discourage tobacco consumption, but this is easily the single worst policy they can adopt to do it other than outright banning it.

[The Fascist American Empire]

Eh... Increases the tax money that goes into South Korea's coffers, plus it will have the added benefit of getting people to quit smoking because they can't afford it. Two birds, one stone. I really don't see any problems with this.

[The Fascist American Empire]

It's fine if it encourages more people to quit.

It will encourage more people to quit, but it will also place even more of an economic burden on the poor, causing them to have to spend even more money on drugs that could otherwise be being spent on essentials. If the problem with the added price is severe enough, it could lead to the development of a black market, allowing unregulated and potentially even more dangerous products to be sold and to quite likely promote the expansion of organized crime. Other government should discourage tobacco consumption, but this is easily the single worst policy they can adopt to do it other than outright banning it.

Somebody's an alarmist....

[The New Lowlands]

For a while I thought this was about North Korea, and was exceedingly confused.

I'm actually kind of neutral on this.

[Threlizdun]

It will encourage more people to quit, but it will also place even more of an economic burden on the poor, causing them to have to spend even more money on drugs that could otherwise be being spent on essentials. If the problem with the added price is severe enough, it could lead to the development of a black market, allowing unregulated and potentially even more dangerous products to be sold and to quite likely promote the expansion of organized crime. Other government should discourage tobacco consumption, but this is easily the single worst policy they can adopt to do it other than outright banning it.

Somebody's an alarmist....

Because the prices of a substance as addictive to heroin increasing couldn't possibly lead the poor to spend more money when they can't afford to, right?

[The Fascist American Empire]

Somebody's an alarmist....

Because the prices of a substance as addictive to heroin increasing couldn't possibly lead the poor to spend more money when they can't afford to, right?

It can't possibly lead to poor people getting smart about their money and getting healthier by quitting smoking, right?

[Threlizdun]

Because the prices of a substance as addictive to heroin increasing couldn't possibly lead the poor to spend more money when they can't afford to, right?

It can't possibly lead to poor people getting smart about their money and getting healthier by quitting smoking, right?

As I said, we are talking about a drug as addictive as heroin. This is not something you just "get smart about", but something that takes considerable effort to quit. The poor often spend about a quarter of their income on tobacco products. With this, they would be spending even more. You are expecting people to just suddenly stop being addicted to nicotine. Such an expectation is ridiculous. These people need considerable assistance in quitting smoking, and for the poor, that is yet another luxury they cannot afford. If you want people to quit smoking, increase coverage for therapy, nicotine patches, and other helpful measures for quitting. Those will help people; wagon economic war on the poor will not.

[The Fascist American Empire]

It can't possibly lead to poor people getting smart about their money and getting healthier by quitting smoking, right?

As I said, we are talking about a drug as addictive as heroin. This is not something you just "get smart about", but something that takes considerable effort to quit. The poor often spend about a quarter of their income on tobacco products. With this, they would be spending even more. You are expecting people to just suddenly stop being addicted to nicotine. Such an expectation is ridiculous. These people need considerable assistance in quitting smoking, and for the poor, that is yet another luxury they cannot afford. If you want people to quit smoking, increase coverage for therapy, nicotine patches, and other helpful measures for quitting. Those will help people; wagon economic war on the poor will not.

I'm expecting them to get their priorities straight. Family first, "luxury items" second. If it takes away from your family, you need to at least put forth the effort to quit. That is, if you actually care about anybody but yourself.

[Trollgaard]

What a bunch of tyrants. Cigarettes prices should be lowered around the world. Cigarettes for everyone!

[The Fascist American Empire]

What a bunch of humanitarians. Cigarettes prices should be lowered around the world. Lung cancer for everyone!

FTFY.

[Trollgaard]

You ruined the quote.

[Atlanticatia]

Of course, there should also be free, fully funded nicotine addiction treatment medication and programs available, if people want them.

So there should be
a) high taxes to discourage people from starting to smoke (and revenues should go to things like health and education)
b) plain packaging to discourage smoking, along with strict regulations for public places
c) free, fully funded medication (patch, gum, medicine, etc) or programs available to help people who are addicted to smoking

The key is that there needs to be a well rounded approach that involves prevention, discouragement, treatment, and education. Taxes are only one part of something that should be bigger.

[Threlizdun]

As I said, we are talking about a drug as addictive as heroin. This is not something you just "get smart about", but something that takes considerable effort to quit. The poor often spend about a quarter of their income on tobacco products. With this, they would be spending even more. You are expecting people to just suddenly stop being addicted to nicotine. Such an expectation is ridiculous. These people need considerable assistance in quitting smoking, and for the poor, that is yet another luxury they cannot afford. If you want people to quit smoking, increase coverage for therapy, nicotine patches, and other helpful measures for quitting. Those will help people; wagon economic war on the poor will not.

I'm expecting them to get their priorities straight. Family first, "luxury items" second. If it takes away from your family, you need to at least put forth the effort to quit. That is, if you actually care about anybody but yourself.

Jesus, first you have the audacity to expect people to quit one of the most addictive drugs in existence without effort, and then you call them selfish? Who the fuck do you think you are?

[Bezkoshtovnya]

What a bunch of tyrants. Cigarettes prices should be lowered around the world. Cigarettes for everyone!

There were some studies 50 years back. Turns out they're pretty bad for you. Best to gradually lower taxes to gradually get people to.quit.

And this is coming from.a.smoker.

[The Fascist American Empire]

I'm expecting them to get their priorities straight. Family first, "luxury items" second. If it takes away from your family, you need to at least put forth the effort to quit. That is, if you actually care about anybody but yourself.

Jesus, first you have the audacity to expect people to quit one of the most addictive drugs in existence without effort, and then you call them selfish? Who the fuck do you think you are?

Can you not read? I have thrice said effort is required! If you aren't willing to put forth that effort to keep your own damn kids fed, of course your a worthless, selfish bastard! Trust me, I'm the son of such a worthless, selfish bastard!

[Alcase]

Good.