Should the govt stop increasing tobacco prices?

[TheQuirkyMaker]

A cheap packet of 20 cigs now costs about £15. They last a day. Most smokers are in the lower economic demographics. Should we ask the govt to stop hammering us in each budget?

I'll admit I've had 2/3 puffs of a vape. Maybe 2 puffs of someone's cigarette drag. I coughed, didn't enjoy it and even if I did, why am I going to damage my 🫁.

presumably you realised other people do smoke though? And that it’s addictive?

”why do you smoke when it’s expensive” is a question with a very obvious answer I’d say?

The nhs does help smokers. It has groups and sessions and will prescribe patches, gums and vape kind of things to help people quite.

Same as the methadone. It’s used to help them wean off and stay off heroin.

So they stop. I did, years ago after 40 a day. There was no free assistance then. All the support they need is there.

Some people can't afford to eat. If i was in power cigarettes would be £100 a packet

Agree. That some people put their habit ahead of the material needs of their children is neglect, plain and simple.

My friendwhen giving up said the nhs " assistance" was crap. Texts saying don't smoke, leaflelets stating obvious downsides etc. She KNEW ( as does everyone) so what was the point?

Of course not. They should keep rising the price until it’s so astronomical even the biggest chain smoker couldn’t justify it. Think £50 for 20 and you’re there. Or just outlaw the bloody things.

Can’t believe anyone still does it in truth. I don’t see it anywhere near as frequently thankfully but I’m always particularly shocked when I see young people doing it. It was genuinely cool when I was a teen and lots of edgy celebs did it but now it’s just something I link to old people. Also have no idea how anyone even affords it.

Who still smokes In 2025? People have moved onto vaping, unfortunately with the assumption it’s harmless so now you have pregnant women vaping with no worries and vapers breathing strawberry clouds all over your face.

Is here a market at all for cigarettes that haven't been taxed? Like an underground market?

Dunno if it still exists but a few years ago people were stealing and selling things black market style in pubs. Unsure how they’d steal fags but I guess people still buy them abroad cheaply and bring them over to sell.

But yeah the pub selling was wild, I was a bartender in one such establishment when I was studying and the local shoplifters would come in with all sorts- cheese, coffee, meat but the craziest thing I saw was a paddling pool! You know how supermarkets put things like that in the entrance? The guy had grabbed a few and ran straight out! They sold really well tbf.

We have it the other way around in some family Members cases they believe smoking is safer than vaping so moved across despite never being a smoker before. Then the older relative who just doesn’t trust vapes and come out a 2 week hospital stay after a very best chest and started back up 2 days later.

Some people just won’t learn. Elderly persons case is loaded so £50 a pack wouldn’t stop them.

I’ve got a few conspiracy theorists in my family who did the same thing I assumed it was just them being contrary and not a common thing though.
I’ve tried saying here’s an idea why not just breath air instead of vape or tobacco but it falls on death ears and back to moaning about how broke they are after paying the extortionate tobacco prices

Still?
Other countries that used to chew betel have massively dwindled. Again India (only because I am there regularly), I can't say I noticed any of the red stains you used to see from betel. It's just not the done thing anymore.

Besides, chewing betel doesn't impact those around you in the same way smoking does (other than the grossness).

Do you not think something that directly impacts other people's health is something that is worth making illegal? It's rightly been made illegal to smoke in public buildings and in cars with children. It is awful to smell the stench when a 4 yo walks into school stinking of stale smoke because their parents smoke at home. But that's not illegal, despite the lifelong health issues they are directly causing for their child.

No, sin taxes are great. Entirely voluntary, bring in loads of money, and no-one can argue addiction with all the options available these days.

people who smoke are now seen as rich.

Only if the person signs a waiver removing themselves from all NHS services for life.

Otherwise, they should bang the price up another £10.

Smoking is good for you. I gave up years ago. Never a day goes by that I don't yearn to spend £15 a day to suck on a tube of dried leaves, swallow the smoke, blow it out again, and watch tar stains gather on the ceiling. Fun times. 😃

So yes, the government should not only stop increasing prices but slash them.

Typo

Yeah let people sign a waiver to not be treated for smoking related health issues. BUT tgen they shouldn't need to be paying the tax on cigarettes so they'd be cheap

Cant charge people more than treatment costs then not allow them to use it. Thats just taking the mick

They should make them so expensive that nobody buys them.

The government WANT people to buy them though. Thats the point

Alcohol does more social damage- let's make the cheapest bottle of wine £50

Chocolate isn't good for you- so £20 a bar

Fizzy drink- that will be £40

Where does it stop?

Per pack of 10

Don’t smoke. It’s that easy.