MSE News: Budget 2011: Beer and cigarette prices to jump

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The cost of alcohol and fags will rise after the Chancellor confirmed he will implement pre-arranged rises in duties ..."

Read the full story:
Budget 2011: Beer and cigarette prices to jump

Derivative

All I can say is - good.

Tax cigarettes and alcohol into oblivion. Those that drink every now and then are hardly affected, those that make it a lifestyle choice and drive up the costs of the NHS get their comeuppance.

BodyElectric

EdgEy wrote: »

All I can say is - good.

Tax cigarettes and alcohol into oblivion. Those that drink every now and then are hardly affected, those that make it a lifestyle choice and drive up the costs of the NHS get their comeuppance.

Yeah, no impact whatever on me I don't smoke and I can make a bottle of spirits last a decade.

geordie_joe

EdgEy wrote: »

All I can say is - good.

Tax cigarettes and alcohol into oblivion. Those that drink every now and then are hardly affected, those that make it a lifestyle choice and drive up the costs of the NHS get their comeuppance.

The problem is, the government gets more in taxes on those products than it spends on treating the effects of them.

If they tax them into oblivion it will have to increase the tax on fuel to make up for the tax it will lose.

pretzelnut

geordie_joe wrote: »

The problem is, the government gets more in taxes on those products than it spends on treating the effects of them.

If they tax them into oblivion it will have to increase the tax on fuel to make up for the tax it will lose.

I lead a very simple life, don't drink, don't do a lot of many things, have never committed a crime or put a strain on any other government run resources, never been a benefit sponger but I do smoke, it's my 1 vice.

50p per 20 is ridiculous, I really don't see why us smokers should take such a hit. I guess it's because we're an easy target, it's not like driving where you can sell your car and bike or bus it to save money. It's not like beer where you can choose to stay in instead of going out.

I have tried to quit countless times, I have tried everything sometimes twice, before you say just quit smoking, it's not as simple as that, I hate smoking I really do, they could put them up £10 a packet and I would still have to smoke. I am kept sane by having my 20 a day, believe me I would cost the NHS & other services FAR more if I didn't have my fags.

Have they taxed the gamblers as much?

They'll run out of things to tax soon, and before we know it drugs will be legalised and taxed.

Storck

I don't drive, use my bike, so as far as I am concerned they can push up car tax and petrol tax for all private cars.

Now that is as stupid an idea as some of the other comments on here.

Derivative

princesswoo wrote: »

50p per 20 is ridiculous, I really don't see why us smokers should take such a hit. I guess it's because we're an easy target, it's not like driving where you can sell your car and bike or bus it to save money. It's not like beer where you can choose to stay in instead of going out.

No, it's not like driving. It's more like watching TV, where you can choose to do absolutely nothing for free. Give over, people can and do quit smoking and your lack of willpower is not a problem for anyone else to solve.

I don't drive, use my bike, so as far as I am concerned they can push up car tax and petrol tax for all private cars.

Now that is as stupid an idea as some of the other comments on here.

If there were a way to exclude people who actually required use of their car, such as those in rural areas and the disabled, I would be all for this. Could you elaborate on why saving oil for essential commercial usage is a "stupid" idea?

geordie_joe

EdgEy wrote: »

No, it's not like driving. It's more like watching TV, where you can choose to do absolutely nothing for free.

Actually it's not, smoking is an addiction, just like any other. It's not as simple as just choosing not to do it.

EdgEy wrote: »

Give over, people can and do quit smoking and your lack of willpower is not a problem for anyone else to solve.

But a far greater number can't and don't quit. Putting down a smoker because they can't quit is no different to putting down those who died in the war because many people didn't.

EdgEy wrote: »

If there were a way to exclude people who actually required use of their car, such as those in rural areas and the disabled, I would be all for this.

The problem is defining what is "required". I hear many people claiming they "need" their car, but when I hear the reason why they need it I don't think it's valid.

EdgEy wrote: »

Could you elaborate on why saving oil for essential commercial usage is a "stupid" idea?

I think that was a flippant remark.

johncas1

princesswoo wrote: »

50p per 20 is ridiculous, I really don't see why us smokers should take such a hit. I guess it's because we're an easy target, it's not like driving where you can sell your car and bike or bus it to save money. It's not like beer where you can choose to stay in instead of going out.

Your not being forced to smoke my sister quit why can't you there is plenty of quit smoking stuff out there I hope fags do go to £10 a pack or more as when you end up in hospital with lung cancer in hospital it's my dad or other nurses who has to look after you and who pays for the nhs we all do and my friend who quit saved £3000 thats 3 grand a year think what you could do with that

johncas1

I thought fuel was down 1p a litre my tescos petrol station knows nothing about it and was not cutting prices whats going no they actually put up diesel by 1p

DCFC79

geordie_joe wrote: »

The problem is defining what is "required". I hear many people claiming they "need" their car, but when I hear the reason why they need it I don't think it's valid.

well i need my car to get to work, using a bus is out of the question due to the length of time it would take to get to where i want to go plus id end up getting home later than if i went by car so i end up losing out, i am actually looking for a job closer to home so i can cut cost of petrol but not much luck so far