Gahmen shld restrict Singaporean & PR from smoking

[red amoeba]

In the same vein as the govt trying to discourage Singaporeans and PR from entering casino by levying 100 bucks, they should do likewise for ciggys to "protect" Singaporeans and PRs from ill-effects of smoking.

Firstly, sale of ciggys shld be banned and only sold in certain shops (these shops must apply for license) just like licensed liquor shops in some countries. They will have a system to record all buyers of ciggys and Singaporean and PRs must pay 100 (or some amount of levy) to purchase. In order to prevent abuse of system - ie. ask some foreigners to buy on behalf, all are restricted to only 2 packs per day (for example).

The data enters into a infosystem that can track the qty of ciggys each buy. No restriction on sale and purchase at airports...

good idea?

 

[Rogue Trader]

Will never happen because all vices are profitable. And even if regulation is put in place, an underground economy aka black market will emerge.

That is why the government has stopped increasing the tobacco tax for the last 2 years. The cost of going after the illegal cigarette sellers risks becoming more than the duty they collect.

 

[SneeringTree]

good idea?

Unfortunately, a terrible idea. This would only create widespread black market sales of cigarettes. The monetary costs of administering such a system (which is doomed to fail anyway) would be astronomical.

This would also get smokers up in arms. They are already so brain-damaged by their smoking, they cannot differentiate a good policy from a bad one.

 

[saratogas]

Government helps to cause heart attack to all smokers...
Smoking is harmful to lungs but the price of a smoke makes the heart pain...

 

[Internet Brigade]

A good idea in spirit but politcal suicide in action. Even Obama would never dare go up against the Tobacco Lobby.

The Tabacco industry is similar to the Casino industry in Singpaore. The government do without them, nor can they be seen to promote them.

 

[SIFU]

wow these couple of days suddenly a lot of old timers coming back to post. :p

 

[leetahbah]

The share holders of British American Tobacco and Singapore Tobacco Company will say bad idea

 

[sir cum-a-lot]

there wasn't any ill effects of chewing gum, but they banned it for good. if they really in have the interest of health at heart, dare they do the same for tobacco & alcohol?

 

[championplug]

That is why the government has stopped increasing the tobacco tax for the last 2 years. The cost of going after the illegal cigarette sellers risks becoming more than the duty they collect.

I think if they are afraid that the smokers might actually stop smoking if continue to increase the duties. And there goes the revenue!

 

[SneeringTree]

there wasn't any ill effects of chewing gum, but they banned it for good. if they really in have the interest of health at heart, dare they do the same for tobacco & alcohol?

I don't think gum can even be remotely compared to cigarettes in terms of its addictive quality. I think it is despicable to ban outright something which obviously many people are addicted to.