Up in smoke

This post is an extended comment based on Aizuddin's post on the government's anti smoking campaign.

Personally, I support the government initiative and I think smoking in public places should be limited (not ban completely). I used to smoke cigarette but i quit. I do smoke cigars currently but thats because I enjoy the lingering taste of tobacco coupled with hints of wood and spiciness... sometimes peppery sometimes floral... hmmm...
Yes, threat is still there but i don't do it on a daily basis. Same thing goes with fat. If you eat Big Mac and Whopper every other day, you'll end up with a coronary disease by the time you're 35. If you go to McD every other week and skip the teh tarik and roti canai sessions, you might be able to catch a ride up to 70. Make sense right?

For spending RM 100 million on the campaign, the government should find ways to recover the money. How? Tax the smokers of course. Here are a few suggestions.
1) Increase the tax on cigarettes (In Australia a pack of ciggies cost AUD 8 - thats about RM24!)
2) Cigarette vendors should have license to sell cigarettes.
3) Restaurant should have smoking and non smoking sections. Of course those who choose to dine at the smoking section would have to pay smoking fees.
4) Legalize marijuana... and put a tax on it as well! (if you can make money out of it, why the hell not?)
5) Higher insurance premium for smokers. (insurance policies have all sort of fine print anyway)
6) Any other suggestions are welcomed.

With the extra income the government could reap from the smokers (and stoners too), perhaps they could lower the import tax and excise duties on cars?

Finally, I do symphatize with smokers who seemed to be the sitting duck against the onslaught of the anti smokers. What if we have anti fat campaign, would fat people be ostracized like the smokers too? I wonder....

Comments

[Ash.ox]

KaZ: Eeenteresting points, bro.

Actually they make sense. Hmmm.

BTW, are you still on typepad?

[killuminati]

i will happily eat my hat when #4 happens, though i don't expect to perform that culinary feat in my lifetime.

[lurker]

Hey! I agree on all points.

In the UK, the price of cigarettes are obscene!

And on top of that, increase taxes for liquor too. People who have money to throw away should contribute higher to meaningful purposes. :P

[KaZ]

Ash: yup, im still on typepad!
Killuminati: as for now, we just have to dream bro... ;)
lurker: that goes without saying =p

[vlad]

The beautiful words of Peter Tosh, "Legalize it, don't critisize it."

lurker: ehem what increase tax on liquor some? *bloody looking for double barrel shotgun*

[khalilur]

The goct increases tax on cigarettes and alcohol every year already. Don't worry. You'll get your obscene prices sooner than you think!!