Interesting Little Statistic

[Simon-JG-hr]

Was interested to read the following statistic whilst browsing through various government documents relating to tobacco legislation.

In the year 2000, ?9.6bn of revenue was generated by the British government from tobacco sales (duty, VAT etc). In the same paragraph, it estimates that the cost to the NHS of smoking related treatment was less than ?2bn... and this was in a Department of Health document.

So, here's a thought. Should the government really be encouraging smoking in these austere times? What better way to generate a shed-load of profit for the country's coffers and, with any luck, help to solve the pension crisis at the same time. Surely it's a win-win!

This post was brought to you by 'tongue partially in cheek productions'...

[bigbarneyhotdog]

11 years is a long time. I wonder what the revenue generated is today? Post smoking ban etc.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Probably higher - a reduction in smoking, yes, but considerably higher duty rates and VAT. I would predict that the percentage of 'profit' will slowly increase as reduced burdens on the NHS due to fewer smokers coincide with increased duty takings.

EDIT: There we have it, HMRC stat, ?10.5bn in the year 2009. Due to the recent big hit/double whammy on the duty/VAT front I envisage that increasing yet further.

[JOAO LA PEZ]

We should all be extremely proud of ourselves, generating that amount of revenue for the Country, whilst doing something we enjoy, so yah boo sucks to the Anti brigade.

[M1F2R3]

Quite an interesting relationship between the two statistics, as Simon said, no doubt in the future the amount of revenue generated will increase.

[Gman]

Very true?. Encourage smoking

• Increase national income
• Increase impotence
• Increase heart disease
• Increase cancer
• Decrease sperm counts
• Decrease life expectancy

Overall result

• Reduced younger population leading to
• Increased employment, reduced benefit pay-outs and decreased pensions payment

I think we are onto a winner here lads

[Simon-JG-hr]

Glad to see that 'tongue partly in cheek productions' is being taken so seriously...

Perhaps we could just issue the dregs of society with cigarettes along with their welfare? Most of them spend it on cigarettes anyway, the government might as well lend its weight behind some sort of bulk-discount. Hopefully the impotence, cancer and reduced sperm count will help to allow natural selection to run its course, something the NHS is doing its darndest to prevent.

Whilst we're going all serious for a moment... I so often have the urge to go off about the NHS... It's a fantastic organization, and provides some absolutely vital services, but it does too much. Humans are the first species which has evolved to the state where it is able to de-evolve as a result of its own advances...

[spirit_of_will]

Glad to see that 'tongue partly in cheek productions' is being taken so seriously...

Perhaps we could just issue the dregs of society with cigarettes along with their welfare? Most of them spend it on cigarettes anyway, the government might as well lend its weight behind some sort of bulk-discount. Hopefully the impotence, cancer and reduced sperm count will help to allow natural selection to run its course, something the NHS is doing its darndest to prevent.

Whilst we're going all serious for a moment... I so often have the urge to go off about the NHS... It's a fantastic organization, and provides some absolutely vital services, but it does too much. Humans are the first species which has evolved to the state where it is able to de-evolve as a result of its own advances...

I've never read so much sense written in a thread...