Lol what an odd retort, I already suggested several posts ago this wasn't the thread for it, but suit yourself.
I wish I could have smoked in 'moderation' but I couldn't(I smoked like a chimney).I felt unwell a few months back and came off them as they were aggravating my chest. I spent about £90-£100 a week on ***s/tobacco which is a huge amount off a part-time wage.It's made it relatively painless for me that I made the decision myself rather than having it forced on me. Healthwise,I haven't felt any benefit as such,infact I'm a fatter fat bastard than I ever was
As with covid, I post this just to flag up the additional consequences of sound bite measures. It is estimated that obesity is responsible for more than 30,000 deaths each year. On average, obesity deprives an individual of an extra 9 years of life, preventing many individuals from reaching retirement age. In the future, obesity could overtake tobacco smoking as the biggest cause of preventable death. It is estimated that the NHS spent £6.1 billion on overweight and obesity-related ill-health in 2014 to 2015. Annual spend on the treatment of obesity and diabetes is greater than the amount spent on the police, the fire service and the judicial system combined. More broadly, obesity has a serious impact on economic development. The overall cost of obesity to wider society is estimated at £27 billion. The UK-wide NHS costs attributable to overweight and obesity are projected to reach £9.7 billion by 2050, with wider costs to society estimated to reach £49.9 billion per year. https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...h-matters-obesity-and-the-food-environment--2
So, back on track. If/when the new owners are announced, how do posters plan to celebrate? Will there be a big get together, to smoke a cigar and enjoy copious amounts of alcohol after a slap up meal?
As the government receives far more in taxes and duties from the manufacture and sale of tobacco products, the majority of the price is, live petrol, taxes, not to mention the business rates from the shops and the tax and NI paid by the people involved in the manufacture, transprotation and sale of those products than it costs the NHS be prepared for tax rises to cover the loss if it happened.
I think most people would be against more immigration and a host of other things like soft sentencing for criminals but it doesn't mean they will alter. And even if the majority of people who vote on something the other side don't like they refuse to accept it as we have seen recently.
Of course, doesn't mean taxes will jump up though, which is why I was curious, as it will be a good case study for other countries.
