Smoking

[NickFitz]

Most important words in that article: "If this trend continues..."

In other words, meaningless extrapolation along a straight line and, as usual, some journalist with no understanding of statistics swallows it whole

[northernladuk]

As the numbers (and income from tax) start to tumble the goverment will panic and re-classify cannabis but allow only big tabacco companies to make joints and re-sell them so keeping the factories open, managing the distribution of cannabis and most importantly keeping the income from tax on them... oh and re-classifying them as lifestyle drugs so as not to mess with their wonderful 'smoking' figures. Funny how one will decline slowly while the other shoots up exponentially. 0 smokers but lifestyle drug up take 300% above what smoking was. Everyone is happy. Easy innit.

[ThomasSoerensen]

Not only could the drug dealers "spice" the cigs. They could also just take over the market and start selling them. No need for expensive marketing like spicing with meth.

[OwlHoot]

Dodgy geezers and drug dealers would be rubbing their hands in glee if cigarettes were ever outlawed - Look what a big business tobacco smuggling already is in this country. And when teenagers were buying their newly fashionable fags, the dealers could pop free heroin and crystal meth samples in to get them interested in that.

Trying to ban fags would be the dumbest move since prohibition in the US, when the Mafia got its big break and has never looked back since.

[DimPrawn]

Share price of British American Tobacco.

British American Tobacco plc: LON:BATS quotes & news - Google Finance

Note how the crash of 2008 barely dented it and the value of the company continues to rise.

There are billions of smokers in the 3rd world and in the future super power countries China, India, Russua, Brazil etc.

[ThomasSoerensen]

It must be very easy to make this kind of prediction.

What is the value of someone taking the current relative rate of smokers and then extrapolate according to the current change?

Why is this tulip even printed?

Will smokers change their behaviour due to this? If so it only makes the article outdated?

[OwlHoot]

The year smoking will die out around the world: table - Telegraph

% of the population that smokes Citi's earliest prediction for end of smoking

United Kingdom 21 2040

I wouldn't hold your breath:

France 25% 2118

Greece 40% 2231

Oh and China, if had been included, probably: 60% 3000 AD

[wobbegong]

Oh crap! If it really is going to die out, then the government will have to start taxing something else, and it'll probably be something I use.

[BigTime]

As in Ireland.

That's were they got it from then. Or Ireland followed someone else

[Churchill]

The year smoking will die out around the world: table - Telegraph

% of the population that smokes Citi's earliest prediction for end of smoking

United Kingdom 21 2040


My one new years resolution was not to bother casually smoking any more (something achievable and will remove the rough throat from the hangover). I'm amazed that they claim there's a straight line decline and will be interested to see shops/garages stop stocking smokes when it becomes no longer worthwhile. In Canada, they've banned the display of tobacco products for sale (they're hidden behind blacked out screens or in shut cabinets) so it's already difficult there if you're unfamiliar with the local brands.

As in Ireland.

[BigTime]

The year smoking will die out around the world: table - Telegraph

% of the population that smokes Citi's earliest prediction for end of smoking

United Kingdom 21 2040


My one new years resolution was not to bother casually smoking any more (something achievable and will remove the rough throat from the hangover). I'm amazed that they claim there's a straight line decline and will be interested to see shops/garages stop stocking smokes when it becomes no longer worthwhile. In Canada, they've banned the display of tobacco products for sale (they're hidden behind blacked out screens or in shut cabinets) so it's already difficult there if you're unfamiliar with the local brands.