Would You Pay $100 for a Pack of Cigarettes?

Every one I've met that quit, was a little cranky for 2 or 3 days. Compare that to the drugs advertised on TV. They CLAIM stroke, heart attack, suicide etc, etc. And for some reason. it's all legal.

I remember Dean Edell once said that giving up tobacco is one of the toughest addictions to give up. My wife who gave them up in '97 still has a craving for them. You are right about prescription drugs on TV. Love it when they say a side effect can be death.

Because the same thing happens every time. They go to prescription drugs. Prescription drug death are over twice the rate of street dope. Hence Dr shopping. 80% of people have stopped smoking in the US and we're losing in life expectancy. Prescription deaths are thru the roof.

So what would you suggest?

Because it's highly addictive, and therefore very very profitable. By banning cigarettes, you cause the prohibition all over again. All that'll happen is the formation of huge black markets.

Gradual increase of taxation of over time (capping at a reasonable max) and increased awareness for younger generations is all that can be asked of the government. Making it illegal would simply shift the distribution to shadier people that are harder to regulate.

All valid points. But isn't that essentially punishing the victim? Since it's not disputed that smoking is physically addictive, that means that most smokers will be forced to sacrifice something else to keep buying the drugs they need.

And you know, in the bigger picture it's not so profitable when you take into account the number of lives lost as well as the amount of lost productivity for smoking related illnesses.

There's no easy answer. I think it's great that some local governments (like NYC for example) make smoking cessation assistance available to people at no charge. Programs like that ought to be expanded so that anyone who WANTS to quit can at least get some help in doing so.

As Mark Twain said: "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times."

Punishing the victim? I suppose so, but it pales in comparison to the damage they're already causing themselves with cigarettes. And, more importantly, the taxes (in theory) should benefit everybody else who doesn't smoke cigarettes, or help people quit (assuming the govt. doesn't use it for war and poorly placed subsidies).

It's not as profitable when you take into account the consequences, that's true. BUT we already have those consequences no matter what, because if we leave it as is, it's around, and if we ban it, it'll just become a black market. And it's always profitable for dealers to sell illegal substances, after all. So when you look at it that way, perhaps the best thing you can say is "at least we can make tax money off this," even if that is rather cynical.

And of course, I'm not against assistance programs. As long as they're effective -- I wouldn't want taxes to go towards them if they weren't helping anybody.

Hah, amusing quote. Although rather trivial -- the whole point of quitting is that you never go back.

In Europe, cigarettes are the most smuggled commodity there is; and cigarettes are legal.

Interesting. Somehow that's still profitable...?

I've often wondered why we have these double standards when it comes to cigarettes and alcohol too. Especially alcohol, which causes far more or just as much damage to society as other illicit drugs I can think of.

And now, in some states they have a problem with cigarette trafficking and smuggling because they are priced so high in some areas of states like New York.

Don't smoke.

I wouldn't pay 100 cents for a pack of cigarettes because smoking is one of the dirtiest habits a person can have. In fact, that's a deal breaker for me if anyone wants to date me, ladies.

And the dirtiest is driving... that dark fog over L.A. Didn't come from smokers

No, it didn't, but there are also new ideas to make cars run off alternative energy. They don't have green cigarettes.

yeah, they do.

Actually coal mining causes more lung damage than smoking.

sure they do

To start with, driving isn't a habit. I don't live in the US, but I think worldwide, the cost of supporting people who smoke in the health system is ridiculous. Apparently cancer can't even cure smoking anymore.

I don't smoke ANYTHING!

Absolutely ridiculous. I'm not a smoker, but the prices are already insane; they don't need to be any higher. There is NO REASON for that. Health departments need to stop trying to smother out smokers with unnecessarily high prices.

I wouldn't pay anything for any pack of cigarettes. I don't smoke.

But taxing cigarettes to $100 a pack will just cause the black market to thrive in New Zealand.

No way! That's insanity.

I wouldn't pay a penny for a pack of cigarettes. I prefer living long and without addiction.

Contraband will flourish. Politicians are the worst history students.

i wouldn't even pay a dollar...

I wouldn't even pay a dime.
...All I could read was Master...

Expect master going to get lively if he catch this child

Well that's one way to get people to quit smoking.

Would you spend thousands to buy weed?

Yes

I would request for it on my birthday and christmas. Lol!-lol!

that is ridiculous!

What do you mean? The price of Cigarettes or the sign?

BOTH

Yes..

I could be using that money for somethimg that wont give me lung cancer and kill me

I only think people who have a serious problem would