Smoking Outside the Ground - Time to be banned

[DerpWerls]

If a packet of cigarettes costs (round number) $5 to sell to produce, but there is $18 worth of taxes per pack;

Rough numbers - 1,000,000 smokers in Australia?

Average 1 packet a day = 365,000,000 packs.

365,000,000 x $18 = $6,570,000,000.00 worth of tax contributed to state and federal governments.

19,000,000 people employed in Australia, you have to pay around an extra $380 a year in tax to subsidise it.

I'm not willing to do that to stop people from making a personal choice.

You realise that smoking costs the Australian healthcare system an estimated $31.5 billion dollars

Edit: Well, not so according to this article: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opi...of-blowing-smoke/story-fnhulhjj-1226689781351

 

[isamedthegiants]

You realise that smoking costs the Australian healthcare system an estimated $31.5 billion dollars

Estimated by who?

P.S I'm a non-smoker so I'm not arguing from a selfish point of view.

 

[DerpWerls]

Estimated by who?

P.S I'm a non-smoker so I'm not arguing from a selfish point of view.

I just googled it and that figure came up intially, but after reading the article in the Australia, the figure includes some strange estimates (e.g. an intangible $19bn loss of life cost)
The actual cost is supposedly actually only $318m.

 

[isamedthegiants]

I just googled it and that figure came up intially, but after reading the article in the Australia, the figure includes some strange estimates (e.g. an intangible $19bn loss of life cost)
The actual cost is supposedly actually only $318m.

So if the intangible $19,000,000,000 and my figures are out by a third, it's basically a push?

Or is the $318,000,000 precise?

I'm not a progressive left leaning voter. I've only ever voted Liberal, which might sound strange because I think it's a person right to decide if they want to smoke.

I had the odd Aunty and uncle smoke. My parents never did, I never did, so I never grew up around it. I just think it's one of those things that people should decide whether or not they do.

 

[Geary Is GOAT]

Years ago although I couldn't see where they were I actually smelt someone smoking a joint inside Subiaco Oval

Should have smelt the inside of Rod Laver Arena when Kendrick Lamar played there last month

 

[Gongswan]

Yeah ok.

I smoked cigarettes overseas and had no problems being confined to outdoor smoking areas.

Not sure I would have found gas chambers quite so easy to to adjust to.

I'm not saying that, I think you know what I mean, but normal is a relative term. To a heroin addict, normal is something completely different as it is to hte alcoholic, as it is from a 5 yo to an 18 yo to a 40 yo person

 

[Gongswan]

Um

Wtf

Do you even history lol

 

[MightyTiger]

Actually you're the muppet.

Ban smoking in public. If you want to smoke, do it with other cretins or alone. Plenty of other things are banned in public, that are less annoying and harmful than smoking.

Suck it up princess.

 

[Damon_3388]

I'm not a progressive left leaning voter. I've only ever voted Liberal, which might sound strange because I think it's a person right to decide if they want to smoke.

Well, once upon a time, Conservatives were all about personal freedoms and allowing people to do what they want to do without interference.

 

[DerpWerls]

So if the intangible $19,000,000,000 and my figures are out by a third, it's basically a push?

Or is the $318,000,000 precise?

I'm not a progressive left leaning voter. I've only ever voted Liberal, which might sound strange because I think it's a person right to decide if they want to smoke.

I had the odd Aunty and uncle smoke. My parents never did, I never did, so I never grew up around it. I just think it's one of those things that people should decide whether or not they do.

Well the way I read it was, if the revenue is $8 billion and the cost is $318 million then yes there would be a significant cost to the taxpayer, somewhere in the area of $400 on average p.a. for each individual. Who knows what the actual cost is though.

 

[JPetro83]

If you smoke you're not a normal person? Nice agenda you muppet.
Stay inside and please refrain from making more embarrassing threads.

"MUPPET" lame.. I cant believe ppl use that. soooo lame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JPetro83]

I don't smoke, but it is a tad unfair to call smokers not normal. lets just hope the price of cigarettes keeps going up. might encourage people to give up the darts.

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

I don't smoke, but it is a tad unfair to call smokers not normal. lets just hope the price of cigarettes keeps going up. might encourage people to give up the darts.

they've actually become so expensive that pretty soon they're gonna be seen as a status symbol like a big cuban cigar would be lol

 

[isamedthegiants]

they've actually become so expensive that pretty soon they're gonna be seen as a status symbol like a big cuban cigar would be lol

Until you go overseas...

 

[sedders]

I equate public smoking to public masturbation, both offensive to people around you, particularly if you blew your smoke all over someone. It's not just disgusting but can make others sick. The only reason smoking in public is legal is the $$$ it generates.

Be considerate of the people around you, think of the children, the elderly, the ex smokers trying to quit.

If you want to wank do it in your own private place.

 

[MWPP]

I equate public smoking to public masturbation, both offensive to people around you, particularly if you blew your smoke all over someone. It's not just disgusting but can make others sick. The only reason smoking in public is legal is the $$$ it generates.

Be considerate of the people around you, think of the children, the elderly, the ex smokers trying to quit.

If you want to wank do it in your own private place.

I Lol'd hard. And love this analogy. So true .
If anything it's still too forgiving as self-gratification is natural and nothing to be ashamed of (and usually isn't a health hazard , though I can think of a couple of exceptions )
Smoking , on the other hand , is different in that regard
But agree with the sentiment of your post

 

[WCE_phil]

I Lol'd hard. And love this analogy. So true .
If anything it's still too forgiving as self-gratification is natural and nothing to be ashamed of (and usually isn't a health hazard , though I can think of a couple of exceptions )
Smoking , on the other hand , is different in that regard
But agree with the sentiment of your post

Tell that to Michael Hutchence mate.

 

[MWPP]

Yeah they should make a smallish area to accommodate the nicco puffers, get em a little out of sight and smell. The worst is talking to one after its had a smoke. Talk about rancid, pig shit smells better. I don't even act polite if I'm talking to one I turn my head away slightly and hold my nose.

Hear hear

 

[MWPP]

Tell that to Michael Hutchence mate.

Which is why I acknowledged that there are exceptions

 

[Gough]

I equate public smoking to public masturbation, both offensive to people around you, particularly if you blew your smoke all over someone. It's not just disgusting but can make others sick. The only reason smoking in public is legal is the $$$ it generates.

Be considerate of the people around you, think of the children, the elderly, the ex smokers trying to quit.

If you want to wank do it in your own private place.

Why don't you test that analogy? When you get bail you can report back, and tell us how it stacks up.

 

[bigfarter]

You're more likely to have your head kicked in by someone who got boozed up at the footy than you are to get cancer by briefly breathing in some second-hand smoke at the ground. Ban booze first.

 

[sedders]

Why don't you test that analogy? When you get bail you can report back, and tell us how it stacks up.

exactly why i dont understand why smoking in public is legal. its filthy and offensive to those not participating.

 

[bigfarter]

exactly why i dont understand why smoking in public is legal. its filthy and offensive to those not participating.

Could say the same of people screaming/swearing or people getting smashed drunk at the footy. Both behaviours that are more intimidatory and dangerous than having to briefly breathe in second-hand smoke. Part of life is that you have to deal with legal things that annoy you and only pose a negligible risk to your safety. It's hypocritical to argue smoking should be banned in public and not follow it with banning public drinking as second-hand smoke breathed in at a minor level is far less likely to impinge on your health and safety than dealing with a large crowd of drunks on the street/in the game. How far do you want banning to go?

 

[MWPP]

Could say the same of people screaming/swearing or people getting smashed drunk at the footy. Both behaviours that are more intimidatory and dangerous than having to briefly breathe in second-hand smoke. Part of life is that you have to deal with legal things that annoy you and only pose a negligible risk to your safety. It's hypocritical to argue smoking should be banned in public and not follow it with banning public drinking as second-hand smoke breathed in at a minor level is far less likely to impinge on your health and safety than dealing with a large crowd of drunks on the street/in the game. How far do you want banning to go?

I mentioned this earlier in the thread but public (street ) drinking is banned
Smoking , however , isn't
I'd very happily ban alcohol from the footy and from other settings
But I suspect others wouldn't be so happy with that decision
Feel free to make a thread about alcohol and I'll post my views on that thread
But this one is about smoking , which should be banned .

 

[bigfarter]

I mentioned this earlier in the thread but public (street ) drinking is banned
Smoking , however , isn't
I'd very happily ban alcohol from the footy and from other settings
But I suspect others wouldn't be so happy with that decision
Feel free to make a thread about alcohol and I'll post my views on that thread
But this one is about smoking , which should be banned .

But if we're discussing smoking being banned, surely we can discuss the further bans that would be opened up by such a precedent. Street drinking is illegal but every Friday night thousands of drunk people stream from the MCG and onto the streets. Most will be fine but some will be violent, no doubt urged by their intoxicated state. I'd rather walk past a guy smoking a cigarette as he leaves the ground than I would a guy who's smashed drunk and potentially violent.

I don't think either should be banned and don't really see either as threadworthy - I think society at the moment is packed to the rafters with sooks who want anything that inconveniences or offends them to be banned. It's not the world's job to cowtow to whinging, especially when it's whinging over something that is only a mild inconvenience.