I cannot fathom the twists of logic necessary to justify such a specific and arbitrary prohibition
Smoking related illness costs the UK more in healthcare than the tax revenue it collects.
No twist needed, it's really fucking logical.
UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
11–20 of 142 posts
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#12I cannot fathom the twists of logic necessary to justify such a specific and arbitrary prohibition
There's little logic to it because prohibition is a fashion, and politics is the dressing up of self-interest in flashy clothes while telling the public they like it. This is not the first ban on tobacco in Britain, and it probably won't be the last.
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#13I cannot fathom the twists of logic necessary to justify such a specific and arbitrary prohibition
Smoking related illness costs the UK more in healthcare than the tax revenue it collects. No twist needed, it's really fucking logical.
Could one make a similar argument for banning sugar?
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#14I cannot fathom the twists of logic necessary to justify such a specific and arbitrary prohibition
Smoking related illness costs the UK more in healthcare than the tax revenue it collects. No twist needed, it's really fucking logical.
Nonsense. Did people already forget the prohibitionism? Did people already forget the war on drugs? I remember liberals were talking about drug decriminalisation 10 years ago, has everybody turned into a puritan nowadays?
Also, very hypocritical argument when alcohol (and gambling) are very accepted in British culture. I'd like to see the numbers showing that the few people that still roll their own cigs at 15 pounds a pouch cost more to the NHS than all the alcoholics in Britain.
Smoking ban is, as usual, Labour going for the low-hanging fruits to scrape the votes of the elderly that are likely to be swayed by these empty arguments, just like the Online Safety Act. One thing's for sure: Barry, 63, would not like if alcohol and gambling were regulated in any way.
I'm not a smoker any more, hate the things and can't stand the smoke, but I sure am glad to have left that island of short-sighted yet heavy-handed politics.
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#15I mean drugs are also banned, and how does that work out?
if you get caught buying/using/… you go to prison
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
Smoking related illness costs the UK more in healthcare than the tax revenue it collects. No twist needed, it's really fucking logical.
Could one make a similar argument for banning sugar?
One could, but it would be a much harder sell politically. The pro-smoking voting block is much smaller than the tasty-food voting block.
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Smoking related illness costs the UK more in healthcare than the tax revenue it collects. No twist needed, it's really fucking logical.
Could one make a similar argument for banning sugar?
Sure, except sugar in itself isn’t bad. It’s products with excessive quantities of sugar. Various laws restrict those, including the promotion to children:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restricting-promo...
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#18Wow, lots of libertarian absolutists up this morning.
Guys, that's all well and good as a philosophy, but you need to integrate your views into the world around you too. When you live in a society that has _decided_ to collectively shoulder health care costs, and assume responsibility for everyone's health, you also may need some ground rules. I know it sucks, because _you_ may have just been born there and you don't really have a choice in what society you live, so that means care needs to be taken, but it doesn't mean there can never be any cost-of-entry.
Re: UK to permanently ban future generations from buying cigarettes
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Smoking related illness costs the UK more in healthcare than the tax revenue it collects. No twist needed, it's really fucking logical.
Could one make a similar argument for banning sugar?
Of course. The government has bought and paid for your health. It is only by the gracious largess that we have been allowed sugar at all.