S Korean government doubles cigarette prices

[Digital Planets]

Silly plebs, go smoke cigars.

[Benuty]

Nice to see the prohibition masturbators out on a full moon tonight.

[Senyosu]

If this is called raising prices....

Well, it's still fucking cheap, especially for Canadian standards. But if it deters people from it, then it's all fine and dandy.

me no smoking by the way

[Blazedtown]

The South Korean government issued a proposal to double cigarette prices:

Under its plan, the average price per pack would go up to 4,500 won (£2.70, $4.35) by the start of next year. It is currently 2,500 won.

But the proposal may undergo changes in parliament as it is facing significant opposition, reports Yonhap news agency.

The government is hoping to cut the smoking rate among men, which is among the highest in the developed world.

About 41% of South Korean men smoke, according to 2012 figures from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development - higher than the 26% OECD average.

South Korea's overall smoking rate, at 23%, is also higher than the OECD average of 21%.

The last cigarette price hike was in 2004 when it went up by 500 won, prompting the smoking rate to slide by 15%, reported Yonhap.

The news agency also said the government was planning to introduce a pricing system pegging cigarette prices to other consumer prices.

Cigarette manufacturers would be required to print picture warnings on their products and some tobacco advertising would be banned, reports said.

The government hopes the price hike will generate an additional 2.8 trillion won in tax revenues.

The opposition has since called it a "deceitful move" which would end up costing low-income earners more, as their smoking rate is higher than other income groups.

The Korean Smoking Association also accused the government of scapegoating smokers to offset rising welfare costs, reported the AFP news agency.

Personally I fully approve of this measure. Coming from the country with the third highest smoking prevalence in the world at 36% (up to 2.5 mln out of a 7 mln population), I can say it's horrible - even those who don't have the pack in their pocket are exposed to tobacco smoke all the time, with all them corresponding health benefits. Taxing tobacco seems like a productive way to reduce consumption without interfering with personal choice.

Is this a fair proposal, NSG ? Do you think overtaxing tobacco would reduce the number of smokers and improve the overall health of a nation, or it's yet another government intervention into people's lives ?

The fascists. And besides I'd love to pay 4.35 a pack.

[Bezkoshtovnya]

The South Korean government issued a proposal to double cigarette prices:



Personally I fully approve of this measure. Coming from the country with the third highest smoking prevalence in the world at 36% (up to 2.5 mln out of a 7 mln population), I can say it's horrible - even those who don't have the pack in their pocket are exposed to tobacco smoke all the time, with all them corresponding health benefits. Taxing tobacco seems like a productive way to reduce consumption without interfering with personal choice.

Is this a fair proposal, NSG ? Do you think overtaxing tobacco would reduce the number of smokers and improve the overall health of a nation, or it's yet another government intervention into people's lives ?

The fascists. And besides I'd love to pay 4.35 a pack.

No kidding.

[Greed and Death]

Good the amount of smoke filled places there were ridiculous. Another problem is people smoking in areas that are non smoking and no one saying anything because they are an old man.

[Solaray]

The South Korean government issued a proposal to double cigarette prices:



Personally I fully approve of this measure. Coming from the country with the third highest smoking prevalence in the world at 36% (up to 2.5 mln out of a 7 mln population), I can say it's horrible - even those who don't have the pack in their pocket are exposed to tobacco smoke all the time, with all them corresponding health benefits. Taxing tobacco seems like a productive way to reduce consumption without interfering with personal choice.

Is this a fair proposal, NSG ? Do you think overtaxing tobacco would reduce the number of smokers and improve the overall health of a nation, or it's yet another government intervention into people's lives ?

The fascists. And besides I'd love to pay 4.35 a pack.

That's a freaking bargain compared to the 15 bucks people have to pay around here.

Ehh, no matter to me though, I prefer cigars.

[Anglo-California]

Goddammit. I just signed a deal with Lucky Strike. Now how am I supposed to advertise there? You know, I once fought in Korea until I deserted.

[Bandwagon]

wow! Soo expensive :S Where I live it is about $2,35, more or less and that's after a "heafty" tax was implemented. I'm not too sure I think this the right way to go, perhaps it is, but I don't know. I think this might increase illegal trade in cigarettes and that would be worse than the legal cigarettes considering they're not governed by any regulations whatsoever.

WTF! Where do you live?

[Syonanto]

Goddammit. I just signed a deal with Lucky Strike. Now how am I supposed to advertise there? You know, I once fought in Korea until I deserted.

You are not Don Draper.

You're Dick Whitman.

[Syonanto]

I've smoked Korean cigarettes. They're strong. And tend to be gimmicky as well; two flavors in one, "Cuban" style flavor, that kind of thing.

I'm not sure if this move will actually curb smoking, but then again, I suspect the aim is primarily monetary. And as is often the case, the vices of the poor are demonized and made difficult to access.

[Chestaan]

you say that it's not on the same level of exploitation as tobacco, that it isn't as addictive.

But they use highly addictive flavorings to make it taste that good, so yes, it is that addictive.

and yet people can go for a few months without those specific things. They wouldn't start shaking, being irritable, and roll around on the floor...

Not so with tobacco. If you're a smoker, they've got you.

Cocaine isn't addictive in the same sense as tobacco either, i.e you won't get withdrawal symptoms and you most definitely can go without it for more than a month. Does that mean coke should be legal?

[The Liberated Territories]

Well, I feel bad for the South Koreans. Not only do they have a government that regulates what they put into their bodies, but also hurts the poor who smoke.

[Ainin]

The Korean Smoking Association

Wat.

[Solaray]

Well, I feel bad for the South Koreans. Not only do they have a government that regulates what they put into their bodies, but also hurts the poor who smoke.

Shit, that price isn't even bad. That's literally 1/3 of what they are here.

[Kravanica]

Good on them.

Smoking's bad for you anyway.

[Chestaan]

Well, I feel bad for the South Koreans. Not only do they have a government that regulates what they put into their bodies, but also hurts the poor who smoke.

Shit, that price isn't even bad. That's literally 1/3 of what they are here.

Wages are probably lower in SK.