Vote on this one

[STEED]

Smokers could be forced to buy £10 licence just for the privilege of lighting up

Smokers could be forced to pay for a Government tobacco licence in order to carry on buying cigarettes under draconian proposals being considered by ministers.

Government advisers have drawn up plans for a smoking permit - similar to the one needed to watch TV - which all smokers would have to carry.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=514753&in_page_id=1770&in_poll_id=20728 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=514753&in_page_id=1770&in_poll_id=20728)



Just out of interest what dose the rest of the world thinks of this.

This poll will be closed after 15 days from today.

[Tango589]

As much as I dislike smoking, where would it end...a license to drink or have children or breath air?

[Jimbuna]

A definite NO......I'm a smoker and it would be extremely costly to administer and enforce http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7178/uowprofuriousoi0eq1.gif

[STEED]

As much as I dislike smoking, where would it end...a license to drink or have children or breath air?


BINGO!!!

Give that man a medal. :D

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Sounds like another idea to waste taxpayers money on useless crap, when it should instead be used to restore some respect to being known as British. :shifty:

[jumpy]

damn Labour swines, always on the make for taxation of somebody under the guise of 'helping'... yer, helping themselves to your cash as usual.

[JSLTIGER]

I don't know about a £10 license, but a £10 surcharge per pack would be an interesting policy...make you pay for your own healthcare...

[jumpy]

I'm afraid we already pay for our own healthcare here in the UK, via the medium of income tax and National-health Insurance contributions (these are deducted by the Inland Revenue from all taxable earnings) - all of which in some way go towards the upkeep of our National Health Service. Not to mention the huge VAT levied on tobacco products, which incidentally also has a percentage apportioned out to the NHS.

[Respenus]

Hear, hear! Finally a government with some salt as smoking is concerned. Please, SubSim smokers, don't impale me for this statement, it's just that I would like too see smoking gone, together with binge drinking (and/or any excesive use of alcohol) and even stricter drug controls (not that this is the main issue of this topic).

I do have to add that I believe that the government should and must offer state controled and financed help for those who want to stop of any the forementioned habits. If it already exists, make it even more wide spread. Yes, I'm taking all "joy" from life, but it's for a better tommorow and for your health aswell. I know "banning" smoking will take a huge chunck out of a country's budget and hit its GDP (if any part of its economy is connected to tobaco processing). We must try to live a healthy and clean lives, away from any bad habits!

Now, I'm not saying that I know what's the status of GB like nowadays and I'm sure that there should be other things that should interest the government more, yet it is nice to see someone taking measures to tackle this problem.

[TteFAboB]

10L-thingie per license won't even pay the cost of the licensing bureaucracy. They'd probably increase it as time went by.

[Brag]

Kooks like Brit politicians are blowing smoke out of their rear ends. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[AVGWarhawk]

As much as I dislike smoking, where would it end...a license to drink or have children or breath air?

Nailed it on the head brother:up:. Talk about grasping for straws to make a buck or two off the citizens. :roll:

[Blacklight]

I'm going to get flamed for saying this but "Anything that helps dissuade people from smoking nomatter how small the effect is a good thing."

Smokers will of course argue "I have the right to smoke !" where I will argue "Those of us who don't smoke have a right not to breathe your smoke !"

I never understood smoking in the first place. It tastes terrible and not only that.. it's poison.
It's like saying "Here's a box of poison. It won't kill you right away, but it will kill you slowly over a long period of time and usually in a horrific way." and people are like "Oh ! That sounds cool ! I'll take two boxes !"
I saw my uncle die of emphazima from smoking and I have another reletive going down the same road. It's not pretty. Healthcare for smokers costs healthcare organisations and governments BILLIONS each year. Therefore, I would support ANYTHING that would help prevent that poison from being used or propogated.

[silentrunner]

Blacklight has a point that both sides can argue there rights, as long as nobody blows smoke right into my face from 7 inches away than I am fine with smoking. Even I who does not smoke and does not even live in the U.K feels like my rights are being taken away when officials come up with crap like this. Imagine if this happens where it will end .
(Official 1) "There are too many obease people we have to come up with a solution
".
(Official 2) "Hey I got an idea why don't we charge 30$ extra to every item a fat person buys at the market".
(Official 2) "Brilliant!"
:nope::nope::nope:

[sunvalleyslim]

sounds like communism to me..........The State tries to control all things.........Now if you said you need to have health insurance before you light up, I would agree with that........everyone else shouldn't have to pay your medical bills.......or do you Brits have socialized medicine?

[Foghladh_mhara]

This is what happens when the state starts to micro-manage. We had the scenario in Ireland where the Government decided that alcohol prices were too high and too restrictive. So they introduced later weekend opening hours and granted alcohol sale licences to corner shops and petrol stations. Then they banned smoking in pubs. Then a study said that binge and home drinking was a problem so they cut back on pub weekend hours but let every petrol station in the state sell booze to teenagers. Now the call has gone out to cut down on off license sales. All in the space of 5 years!! Knee jerk all round.

I read an article today in the Irish press that insinuated that the British Government were planning to drop the oral french part of A-Levels exams because it was causing undue stress to students. I ask you what is the point of studying a language if you cant understand it spoken??? This compares with the Irish solution of 10 years back when they discovered that too many people were leaving school without a mathematics qualification. We had 2 levels. Pass and Honours. The solution? Increase teaching standards? God no. Bring in a third below the other two

Where will it stop???

[Skybird]

A "No" - even from me. Use tax increases to regulate smoking.

More distant-from-reality PC crap from some forsaken clerk's desk - probably not enough sex in his life.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

A "No" - even from me. Use tax increases to regulate smoking.

More distant-from-reality PC crap from some forsaken clerk's desk - probably not enough sex in his life.

lol, Skybird said sex :o:o:o

:lol:

[Skybird]

Hm?

[STEED]

lol, Skybird said sex :o:o:o

:lol:

Did he?









Just checking......................................








Indeed he did. :yep:

[d@rk51d3]

Tee Hee.:lol:



Oh, and I vote NO.

[Blacklight]

My wife and I aren't smokers.. but unfortunately, the people who moved in downstairs from us have two teenage kids who smoke... and they have a large "posse" of friends. all who all smoke as well. The parents run a local business and are usually out till late at night leaving the teens the run of the place. And so.. every freakin weekend evening, There are at least 10 teens down there smoking like chimneys to the point that our entire upstairs appartment smells like an ash tray and we have to open our windows to let the freezing cold air in just so we won't die of seccond hand smoke !!:stare:
I can't imagine the damage they're doing to their lungs and the walls of the apartment down there. There's literally so much smoke that I doubt there's much oxygen down there for their brain cells to use.:nope:

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Hey Blacklight, just play some of your experimental music really really loud ;)

[baggygreen]

hang on...

you guys need a permit to watch tv??? what the hell?!

[Kapitan_Phillips]

hang on...

you guys need a permit to watch tv??? what the hell?!

Its called a TV License. We need one, even if we have no intention of viewing terrestrial signal channels. So, if you buy a TV to use with your X-Box 360 or Playstation, you need a license.

[bradclark1]

I'll say one thing for the UK, they come up with novel ways to stiff it's citizens.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

I'll say one thing for the UK, they come up with novel ways to stiff it's citizens.

I'm waiting for them to introduce a licence required to wipe my own ass. :shifty:

[jumpy]

hang on...

you guys need a permit to watch tv??? what the hell?!
we most certainly do...

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

at the cost of £135.50 for a colour tv license I always used to laugh and make a joke about the concessions for disabled people as follows:

If you're normal you pay the full amount, if you're blind you still have to pay half, and if you're deaf you have to pay extra! :rotfl:

If you buy a new TV from a shop, they will give your details to the TvLicensing people who will send you a reminder. Sucks tbh when all the fee really pays for is the BBC channels, and whilst I say 'good show' to anything with David Attenborough in it, most of the other stuff is rubbish.
You can have a TV and not pay a license fee but you must prove to an inspector that the TV is not capable of receiving a television signal... wierd eh? :roll:

[baggygreen]

Thats nuts...

a licence for a tv. i just fail to see the reasoning behind it other than a blatant money grab.

as for the smokes, i voted no, btw. as much as i detest smoking, thats just a step too far imo.

[Blacklight]

Hey Blacklight, just play some of your experimental music really really loud ;)


Trust me.. if it hasn't made them leave by now, it'll never make them leave. :nope:

Maybe if I tried my classical music library on full blast... :hmm:

[August]

We must try to live a healthy and clean lives, away from any bad habits!

I can agree with the sentiment but what justifies punishing people who don't?

[sonar732]

...probably not enough sex in his life.

Not only did he say sex...but mentioned it in such a way that someone didn't get enough of it. :damn::damn::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::arrgh!::arrgh!:

[Jimbuna]

...probably not enough sex in his life.

Not only did he say sex...but mentioned it in such a way that someone didn't get enough of it. :damn::damn::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::arrgh!::arrgh!:

There's an idea for a new poll......What is considered 'enough' :lol:

[Konovalov]

I voted no. Who comes up with this rubbish? :nope:

[Skybird]

TV fees in germany as well. but that is okay, in principle, since the program of the public broadcasters must be payed for in any way, and they are not allowed to interrupt movies with commercials, and sned them between broadcastings after 2000. I prefer that system any toime to the commercial madness oyu have on american TV, which probably is the worst case scenario of how to use commercials on TV - excessively.

But no matter who pays how, program quality is constantly detoriating, it has become become wide, but thin, introducing a lot of BS, but doing almost nothing really good anymore. We also need to pay the TV fees even if we own no TV or radio, only an internet-capable PC. another no-no for me.

[Reece]

I'm an ex smoker so I know what it's like with this addiction, took me a long time to kick the habit, and although I know I had ashtray breath & now get annoyed when someone is smoking near me, it's still comes down to freedom of choice!:-?
It's just as bad here in Australia, maybe worse, there are 3 things that the poor man, assembly line worker etc has, smokes, car, pub for a drink with the boys after work, and guess what 3 things are taxed the most .. Smokes, petrol, alcohol, and if that's not bad enough, they aren't even allowed to smoke in the pub anymore, what a bunch of government ass holes who made these laws, allways the poor man that gets it!!:nope:

[STEED]

I voted no. Who comes up with this rubbish? :nope:

CLUE.............


The Labour Government or Labour Government Think Tank. :hmm:

[STEED]

hang on...

you guys need a permit to watch tv??? what the hell?!

Its called a TV License. We need one, even if we have no intention of viewing terrestrial signal channels. So, if you buy a TV to use with your X-Box 360 or Playstation, you need a license.

And you need a colour license for a black and white TV if you got a video/DVD recorder as they record in colour. ;)

Please don't get me started on this one again as I am at this moment doing battle with the Bloated Bias Crap.

[Konovalov]

I voted no. Who comes up with this rubbish? :nope:

CLUE.............


The Labour Government or Labour Government Think Tank. :hmm:

Stink Tank more like it.

[STEED]

I voted no. Who comes up with this rubbish? :nope:

CLUE.............


The Labour Government or Labour Government Think Tank. :hmm:

Stink Tank more like it.


:up: :rotfl: :up: :rotfl: :up: :rotfl:

[Jimbuna]

Don't vote.....it only encourages them :lol:

[AVGWarhawk]

I'm going to get flamed for saying this but "Anything that helps dissuade people from smoking nomatter how small the effect is a good thing."

Smokers will of course argue "I have the right to smoke !" where I will argue "Those of us who don't smoke have a right not to breathe your smoke !"

I never understood smoking in the first place. It tastes terrible and not only that.. it's poison.
It's like saying "Here's a box of poison. It won't kill you right away, but it will kill you slowly over a long period of time and usually in a horrific way." and people are like "Oh ! That sounds cool ! I'll take two boxes !"
I saw my uncle die of emphazima from smoking and I have another reletive going down the same road. It's not pretty. Healthcare for smokers costs healthcare organisations and governments BILLIONS each year. Therefore, I would support ANYTHING that would help prevent that poison from being used or propogated.

In a way I agree with you. I am a smoker. Perhaps this money generated should go towards getting users to quit. Lets face it, Phillip Morse openly admits they add more nicotine (the most addictive drug) to their cigarettes. The desire to smoke more and more was created by the manufactures. I can tell you that if I smoke a brand that is not made by Phillip Morse, I smoke more of them to get the desired nicotine my pea brain desires that I get from a Phillip Morse brand. In all reality, the government should go after the manufactures. Shut them down or have them pay the smoke related health costs. In some cases here in the states, some have won over the large tobacco companies in court. Sure, people will say I'm an idiot for smoking and there are warning labels on the boxes but, are the tobacco companies no better then crack dealers on the street? They are offering a drug. But your logic can be two fold. Alcohol needs to go as well. Liver disease, driving while intoxicated, etc. Lets get rid of McDonalds. Fatty foods, fries and burgers. Clogged arteries and heart attacks. Obesity. This also generates medical expenses. The list can go on really.

[ReallyDedPoet]

In PEI, here in Canada, we have a Smoke Free Public Places ACT, I agree with this ( I don't
smoke by the way ), but as to a Smoking License, that is just silly.


RDP

[bradclark1]

I'm a smoker and agree with most smoke free public places. Nobody should have to suck in your second hand smoke. I have not smoked in my house for twenty five years. I smoke on our back step in rain, snow, and cold. One of these days I'll get the will power to quit.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

I'm a smoker and agree with most smoke free public places. Nobody should have to suck in your second hand smoke. I have not smoked in my house for twenty five years. I smoke on our back step in rain, snow, and cold. One of these days I'll get the will power to quit.


And more power to you when you do :up:

[StarFox]

As much as I hgate smokers...espically when they light up next to me without even caring about what I think, that law is a little excessive

[STEED]

As much as I hgate smokers...espically when they light up next to me without even caring about what I think, that law is a little excessive

Just say what Dave Alan said. You don't expect me to unzip my rod and pee on you do you? So don't blow smoke in my face or direction. ;)

[joea]

When will the Revolution come in Old Blighty then??? :nope:

[AkbarGulag]

As far as a 10 pound fee... omg. Smoking is now illegal in NZ in public spaces, bars etc... the ban has been incredibly succesful. It even managed to destroy or dmg buisnesses like Cigar Bars, who needs private enterprise off a semi-legal activity!

As far as the 'liscence' goes, why don't all these governments just have some guts and just ban it outright. I myself am an on/off smoker, I enjoy a cigarette, but government campaigns here have turned smokers into another villified group in society, with people treating you like some sick animal. The glares and hate being funneled towards smokers is truly terrible. Even government paid ads are designed as some sort of guilt trip. Look, smoking is legally able to be bought, if they are going to make 75% of the population hate the other 25% then your off on the wrong foot.

And Respenus, since you would like to get rid of alcohol also, and other things that harm peoples health, then lets extend the ban to all religions. Peoples personal choices should not in anyway interfere with society. It's well known that religion is devisive and can be incredibly harmful to others and themselves when wielded by people with outright 'conviction'.

Aside from their religious beliefs, the Amish people are generations ahead in this field of thinking. No cancer from cell phones I bet you.

[AdlerGrosmann]

Cigarettes and what ever else that people smoke is only a waste. Cigarettes are crap and destroy people's lives.

If someone wanted to smoke, I'd vote that everyone needs a 800$ license to smoke..see if they will buy one to smoke then eh?:88)

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Religion seems to have wormed its way into this thread too.

Bottom line for me:


Smoke if you want do, but do it the hell away from me
Dont expect me to pay for your healthcare if you get a smoking related illness
Dont encourage others to do it

[Reece]

What should be done is ban smoking altogether anyone 15 years and younger, from a specified date, that way all the newer generations will be non smokers, but banning it from existing smokers is just not on,:nope: I was brought up when the knowledge of lung cancer etc from smoking was non existant (or hidden), it was ok to smoke or not! If I knew then what I do nowdays I would not have started, I gave up 15 years or so ago!:oops:

[antikristuseke]

Religion seems to have wormed its way into this thread too.

Bottom line for me:


Smoke if you want do, but do it the hell away from me
Dont expect me to pay for your healthcare if you get a smoking related illness
Dont encourage others to do it

Agree with everything said here and im on half a pack a day.

[Sailor Steve]

Cigarettes and what ever else that people smoke is only a waste. Cigarettes are crap and destroy people's lives.

If someone wanted to smoke, I'd vote that everyone needs a 800$ license to smoke..see if they will buy one to smoke then eh?:88)
So you're one of the beaurocrats who thinks he should pass laws making everybody safe from themselves?

When are you coming to my house to check my bathtub for little plastic thingies on the floor, so I don't slip and break my neck?:nope:

[bradclark1]

Cigarettes and what ever else that people smoke is only a waste. Cigarettes are crap and destroy people's lives.

So does soda and alchohol.

[Jimbuna]

Cigarettes and what ever else that people smoke is only a waste. Cigarettes are crap and destroy people's lives.

If someone wanted to smoke, I'd vote that everyone needs a 800$ license to smoke..see if they will buy one to smoke then eh?:88)
So you're one of the beaurocrats who thinks he should pass laws making everybody safe from themselves?

When are you coming to my house to check my bathtub for little plastic thingies on the floor, so I don't slip and break my neck?:nope:

Young man......some people would argue that Hunting ruins animals lives. So would you advocate 800$ per bullet/arrow/spear etc. :hmm:

[AVGWarhawk]

Religion seems to have wormed its way into this thread too.

Bottom line for me:
Smoke if you want do, but do it the hell away from me
Dont expect me to pay for your healthcare if you get a smoking related illness
Dont encourage others to do it
Beer drinker Kapitan? Drink hard alcohol? Don't expect me to pay for your liver transplant if drinking related. Do not encourge others to drink by posting pictures of certain beers you like. If you drink, get the hell away from any vehicle. Eat fatty foods? Like McDonalds? Do not expect me to pay for your arteries to be unclogged from to many Big Macs. I'm not being a smarty here. Just picking your brain to think on the other side of the equation. There are plenty of very bad habits out there, just seems smoke is in the forefront because of second hand smoke. What about second hand intoxication, a 2000lb automobile and drunk driver at the helm?

[nikimcbee]

I think we should elect Hillary, she we regulate everything! Then we will be safe.

I'm sorry, you played SHx for more than an hour, you need to go outside.

KP, you scored for than 40 points on Madden, that hurts the AI's self esteem. You can only win by 3 points, and no jumping up and down.
blah blah blah:rotfl:

[Jimbuna]

I think we should elect Hillary, she we regulate everything! Then we will be safe.



Nooooooo!! :o
Don't do that!! :nope:

The next tax will more than likely be on oral sex ;)

[Tango589]

When will the Revolution come in Old Blighty then??? :nope:

We don't have revolutions because they would be rained off. The information about the revolution would read: REVOLUTION IS COMING (if wet, in the village hall):doh:

[Jimbuna]

When will the Revolution come in Old Blighty then??? :nope:

We don't have revolutions because they would be rained off. The information about the revolution would read: REVOLUTION IS COMING (if wet, in the village hall):doh:

LMAO :rotfl:

[baggygreen]

I think we should elect Hillary, she we regulate everything! Then we will be safe.


Nooooooo!! :o
Don't do that!! :nope:

The next tax will more than likely be on oral sex ;)Nah, that'll just be banned:o