Do higher taxes on booze and fags work?

[xoggoth]

The reality is that use of illicit products is closely related to the cost of the legal ones in relation to income. Raising taxes just stokes the illegal trades. Also the use of plain packaging makes the packets easier to fake.

Making dangerous and addictive drugs illegal probably makes sense since a relatively small percentage of the population has ever used them anyway. But trying to stop people using fags and booze? Those cats have been out of the bag for so long we will never put them back. Prohibition should have taught us that.

Sin*taxes on alcohol and tobacco have cost the Treasury £31bn, analysis finds

https://iea.org.uk/blog/less-afforda...e-black-market

https://www.ft.com/content/99a6d504-...2-00144feabdc0

PS I suspect that all the regulations about sugar content will not be totally effective either. How long before we have counterfeit cake?

[SueEllen]

PS I suspect that all the regulations about sugar content will not be totally effective either. How long before we have counterfeit cake?

Not really comparing like with like.

With cakes, biscuits, sauces and drinks you can make your own. Plus I doubt the regulations cover those selling one off products at places like coffee mornings, school fetes etc.

[vetran]

The reality is that use of illicit products is closely related to the cost of the legal ones in relation to income. Raising taxes just stokes the illegal trades. Also the use of plain packaging makes the packets easier to fake.

Making dangerous and addictive drugs illegal probably makes sense since a relatively small percentage of the population has ever used them anyway. But trying to stop people using fags and booze? Those cats have been out of the bag for so long we will never put them back. Prohibition should have taught us that.

Sin*taxes on alcohol and tobacco have cost the Treasury £31bn, analysis finds

https://iea.org.uk/blog/less-afforda...e-black-market

https://www.ft.com/content/99a6d504-...2-00144feabdc0

PS I suspect that all the regulations about sugar content will not be totally effective either. How long before we have counterfeit cake?

well thanks to the EU I can buy 200 fags for £30 from a Polish lorry driver.

[OwlHoot]

The reality is that use of illicit products is closely related to the cost of the legal ones in relation to income. Raising taxes just stokes the illegal trades. Also the use of plain packaging makes the packets easier to fake.

Making dangerous and addictive drugs illegal probably makes sense since a relatively small percentage of the population has ever used them anyway. But trying to stop people using fags and booze? Those cats have been out of the bag for so long we will never put them back. Prohibition should have taught us that.

Sin*taxes on alcohol and tobacco have cost the Treasury £31bn, analysis finds

https://iea.org.uk/blog/less-afforda...e-black-market ...

Absolutely, plus alcohol taxes are decimating British pubs, with thousands closing each year.

And exorbitant taxes on cigarettes encourage more people to switch to coarser higher-tar brands, e.g. 20 Silk Cut (c 5 mg) are over £10 for a pack of 20, whereas 20 Chesterfield Blues (c 8 mg tar I think) are only £6, and switching to rollies (without using filters) is even worse.

edit: With the Plain Packaging rules coming in shortly, it's really about time some libertarian set up a web site with good images of cigarette brands and reviews etc, and included various drugs while they were about it! Why not? There's no law against it.

[Paddy]

The reality is that use of illicit products is closely related to the cost of the legal ones in relation to income. Raising taxes just stokes the illegal trades. Also the use of plain packaging makes the packets easier to fake.

Making dangerous and addictive drugs illegal probably makes sense since a relatively small percentage of the population has ever used them anyway. But trying to stop people using fags and booze? Those cats have been out of the bag for so long we will never put them back. Prohibition should have taught us that.

Sin*taxes on alcohol and tobacco have cost the Treasury £31bn, analysis finds

https://iea.org.uk/blog/less-afforda...e-black-market

https://www.ft.com/content/99a6d504-...2-00144feabdc0

PS I suspect that all the regulations about sugar content will not be totally effective either. How long before we have counterfeit cake?

Higher taxes on tissues could stop masturbation.

[DodgyAgent]

Higher taxes on tissues could stop masturbation.

The thought of you , pooperscoot, damntwat, bjproby et al posting more on this site

[westtester]

Absolutely, plus alcohol taxes are decimating British pubs, with thousands closing each year.

And exorbitant taxes on cigarettes encourage more people to switch to coarser higher-tar brands, e.g. 20 Silk Cut (c 5 mg) are over £10 for a pack of 20, whereas 20 Chesterfield Blues (c 8 mg tar I think) are only £6, and switching to rollies (without using filters) is even worse.

edit: With the Plain Packaging rules coming in shortly, it's really about time some libertarian set up a web site with good images of cigarette brands and reviews etc, and included various drugs while they were about it! Why not? There's no law against it.

I found out at the weekend that you won't be able to buy ciggies in 10's any more. I knew about the plain packaging but not this. Apparently it helps price kids out of buying fags by forcing then to stump up for 20 at a time?

[vetran]

Higher taxes on curtains could stop masturbation.

FTFY

[SimonMac]

The reality is that use of illicit products is closely related to the cost of the legal ones in relation to income. Raising taxes just stokes the illegal trades. Also the use of plain packaging makes the packets easier to fake.

Making dangerous and addictive drugs illegal probably makes sense since a relatively small percentage of the population has ever used them anyway. But trying to stop people using fags and booze? Those cats have been out of the bag for so long we will never put them back. Prohibition should have taught us that.

Sin*taxes on alcohol and tobacco have cost the Treasury £31bn, analysis finds

https://iea.org.uk/blog/less-afforda...e-black-market

https://www.ft.com/content/99a6d504-...2-00144feabdc0

PS I suspect that all the regulations about sugar content will not be totally effective either. How long before we have counterfeit cake?

Taxing things like alcohol, tobacco and gambling is big money and has been for a long time. But are these "sin taxes" keeping people from indulging or are they simply a way to raise revenue? Learn all about sin taxes in today's episode.

Do sin taxes work? | Stuff You Should Know

Not ready/listen to any of the stuff, but I would guess its more about driving the black economy rather than money into treasury coffers

[darmstadt]

The thought of you , pooperscoot, damntwat, bjproby et al posting more on this site

Why don't you just go back to Stormfront where you belong