Tasmania takes the lead - smoking

[Bird]

Awesome news... I reckon its a great idea. Its gotta start somewhere. 

Bid to ban cigarettes for anyone born after 2000
Date August 22, 2012 - 10:47AM 462

Tasmania's upper house is calling for a ban on cigarette sales to anyone born after the year 2000.

The state's legislative council has unanimously backed a motion that would effectively start phasing out tobacco sales from 2018, the ABC has reported.

This would mean that we would have a generation of people not exposed to tobacco products

The ban would begin taking effect once people born in 2000 turned 18.

Independent MP Ivan Dean said the move would stop young people from taking up the habit.

"This would mean that we would have a generation of people not exposed to tobacco products," he said.

The move comes less than a week after the High Court ruled in favour of the federal government's introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes.

Tasmanian health minister Michelle O'Byrne has asked the state's Commissioner for Children to look at the proposal, the report said.

Tasmania has the highest rates of smoking in Australia.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/bid-to-ban-cigarettes-for-anyone-born-after-2000-20120822-24liy.html#ixzz24EXFooUL

[DannyG]

Tassie takes the lead on a lot of controversial topics but this one is out there!

Great idea by the way....make tobacco illegal (wife and I are both reformed smokers LOL) the government can find something else to tax.

[Bird]

... the government can find something else to tax.

that will be the killer. They will be billions out of pocket.

[Bill]

that will be the killer. They will be billions out of pocket.

Exactly. And if they thought they could recoup the losses they would have already banned smokes.
Personally I can not see it ever happening. And if it does I say we immediately start to do the same with any alcohol...
Bill

[DannyG]

Exactly. And if they thought they could recoup the losses they would have already banned smokes.
Personally I can not see it ever happening. And if it does I say we immediately start to do the same with any alcohol...
Bill

Ban alcohol..................NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[LJs GU]

I say we immediately start to do the same with any alcohol...
Bill

I can hear Speewa thumping at the keyboard right now...

[BrisVegasGolfer]

that will be the killer. They will be billions out of pocket.

For sure, if they take a short term view.

The long term health benefits and savings for the public health system would be astronomical though. 

[jeb1900]

I can see a few opportunistic people born before 2000 making some easy dollars.

[Bird]

For sure, if they take a short term view.
The long term health benefits and savings for the public health system would be astronomical though.

Without doubt, which is why I gave it the thumbs up.

But i forgot about the tax they make on it
"They'll keep pocketing their $5.5 billion a year in excise revenue. And they'll pocket bonus tax gains on the increased profits of the tobacco giants."

...but you dont think the Gov could survive without the $5billion in tax = even for 1 day.. Sad but true.

Add to that there hasn't been an Aust Gov thats looked to the future since Edmund Barton..

So, either your fuel will go up to about $200/ltr, or 1 can of beer will be $200ea, or banning fags wont ever happen, cause they dont have anything left to sell.

[l0ckym]

I say we immediately start to do the same with any alcohol...

Should I start stockpiling?

[LJs GU]

Look down... see that above your waist line?? That's what I call stock piling! 

[l0ckym]

Look down... see that above your waist line?? That's what I call stock piling! 

Hmm..true..but I can't drink it again..

Unless I was Bear Grylls of course..!!

I'm thinking I'll take over the walk in linen cupboard - remove the sheets and replace with slabs... My shout..

[hainess]

Prohibition???

Hmmmmm.......

Puritan:: The overwhelming fear that somewhere, someone is happy.


Rod

.

[Fun Police]

Isn't that the definition for a Greenie??

[krisandkev]

How on hell would that law be policed?   It is a funny argument when there has been a bit of press recently saying how making drugs illegal has not worked and it should be sold and controlled, taxes collected etc.  Yet people think making cigarettes illegal would work!   By the way, I am against smoking and drugs.
Kevin

[sschmez]

I'm just getting so sick of Governments, lobbyists and associated do-gooders telling everyone what we can and can't do in the interests of protecting us from ourselves.

I don't smoke anymore but i am happy for everyone to make that decision for themselves without another someone putting their hand into everyones wallet.

grog is next according to todays news...........

don't get me started on track closures......


Stevo

[brickiematt]

If this is passed (and I highly doubt it), expect an influx of Tasmanians every weekend into Melbourne buying up big on Winnie blues and PJ's! Kind of like the poms heading across to France to buy duty free alcohol.
The Spirit of Tasmania will become the black market trade route for tabacco.........they could have a big sign at station pier that says "Welcome to Melbourne Marlboro"
At any rate, no government will ever ban the sale of tabacco (or alcohol); they are as addicted to the taxes they reap off them as I am to nicotine! They need to be seen as doing just enough to encourage people to quit, whilst being careful not to do too much so as to lose all that lovely income. If they raised taxes on other commodities (say petrol for instance) to compensate for the loss in tabacco revenue, the public outcry would be enormous.
Anyway, rant over. I'm gunna light a smoke and have another beer, and do it in that last great bastion of freedom......my own backyard!!
Cheers
(cough cough)
Matt

[chappo555]

Slippery slope here. Doesn't anyone see the gradual erosion of our personal freedoms going on.

[Newsman]

Ban tobacco and you create an immediate, massive black market! Not practical... won't happen!!

[shanegtr]

Ban tobacco and you create an immediate, massive black market! Not practical... won't happen!!

excatly, plus under 18's always find a way to get their hands on smokes if they want it. Actually I had a laugh the other day when (cant remember her name) said that the new plain packaged ciggies are a win for parents. I think the pollies are seriously deluded if they think a teenager isnt going to pick up a pack of ciggies because they are not in a shiney pack. As a parent I feel no difference in my confidence of my kids either choosing to smoke or not.

[fishfinder]

i think they should put a band on banding

[Ozsnowman]

I'm all for it, seen too many relatives die from lung cancer :-(

[Bill]

I'm all for it, seen too many relatives die from lung cancer :-(

And i have seen relatives die of liver failure from being alcoholics but I don't see government trying to ban that.
Bill

[asmithaxe]

And i have seen relatives die of liver failure from being alcoholics but I don't see government trying to ban that.
Bill

You are comparing apples to watermelons.  There are safe levels of alcohol consumption.

[Bird]

Slippery slope here. Doesn't anyone see the gradual erosion of our personal freedoms going on.

no not really