Just a question, to increase my understanding of the situation....
I assume cigarette prices are quite high in GB. Here they are about $3.50, or £2.00 for a pack of 20. From what I understand, most of that is tax, that the actual cost of a few ounces of dry chopped leaves rolled in paper is quite low. Therefore, with something like 50,000,000 smokers buying a pack a day, the revenues to government are enormous.
We do grow tobacco in the US, and the government has farm subsidies for them like it does for all farmers. Politicians never met a farmer they didn't want to give money to, especially in election years.
Therefore, the US and state governments are in the hypocritical position of trying to stamp out smoking, while making vast sums from smoking, and paying farmers to grow tobacco.
I was just wondering if a similar have it both ways situation exists in Britain?
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2006-02-15 06:48 pm (UTC)I assume cigarette prices are quite high in GB. Here they are about $3.50, or £2.00 for a pack of 20. From what I understand, most of that is tax, that the actual cost of a few ounces of dry chopped leaves rolled in paper is quite low. Therefore, with something like 50,000,000 smokers buying a pack a day, the revenues to government are enormous.
We do grow tobacco in the US, and the government has farm subsidies for them like it does for all farmers. Politicians never met a farmer they didn't want to give money to, especially in election years.
Therefore, the US and state governments are in the hypocritical position of trying to stamp out smoking, while making vast sums from smoking, and paying farmers to grow tobacco.
I was just wondering if a similar have it both ways situation exists in Britain?
mk