Re:How a Ban on Plastic Bags Can Go Wrong
by roghummal on Friday August 28, 2015 @05:48AM
(#10134512)
>So... your link agrees with what jogjayr is saying?
... yes.
And I believe the "smoking tax" punishes the poor.
You haven't shown that it doesn't; I haven't shown that it does. What we've established is that taxing smoking doesn't stop smokers--Until it's too high a cost to pay. For the poor.
If you think reducing from two packs a day to one and a half packs is a meaningful reduction, enjoy the sensation. That's all you're getting. Savor it.
s/my number/your number/ and the same people are getting sick and dying. They're just paying more for the privilege.
Australia has near-punitive levels of tax on cigarettes, and smoking levels have dropped considerable over the past few decades. About 50% of the price of a pack of cigarettes is tax here, which marries up with your quote. Taxes aren't the only thing making smoking rates drop here, but among the smokers I know, most of them have reduced their rates simply due to the expense.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/a-doll...