news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7247470.stm

Making smokers fill in a deliberately complex form, complete with photo ID and a

The government rushed into 24 hour drinking and are now making plans to rein that it ... can't be long before the non-smokers (seeing their taxes rocket) plead for smoking to be made compulsory !

In The Know wrote:
can't be long before the non-smokers (seeing their taxes rocket) plead for smoking to be made compulsory !
I'd like to think you're right, ITK, but I'm not so sure.

You see, the half truth about how much smoking costs the NHS has been implanted in too many brains for years. You and I know the surplus from taxes raised is huge, but how many others realise this?

Anthony wrote:
In The Know wrote:
can't be long before the non-smokers (seeing their taxes rocket) plead for smoking to be made compulsory !
I'd like to think you're right, ITK, but I'm not so sure.

You see, the half truth about how much smoking costs the NHS has been implanted in too many brains for years. You and I know the surplus from taxes raised is huge, but how many others realise this?

They will soon realise when the current "surplus" (around 10 Billion a year) is added to THEIR taxes !

Very silly

I just gave up smoking new year,bronchitus got out of control.
Still I pay 15p a packet out in Ukraine,so giving up was not exactly a financial decision.
Clarity is needed,the taxes raised on cigarettes are a hidden source of income,mostly not going into the NHS,but subsididing lower rates of income tax...along with petrol and booze these are 'hidden' taxes that hurt the poor worst.
I doubt if this scheme will become law,the money is trivial,and it would be a revenue looser.
Aslo how would foreign people and tourists be able to add to the governments coffers?
No doubt it'll go down well with the anti smoking lobby,Brownie points etc...but would be impractical to implememnt....and could loose Brown a few votes at the wrong time;)