Korean Job Discussion Forums

[World Traveler]

[Aine1979]

Raising taxes on cigarettes seldom has a substantial impact on the number of smokers. For example, in the UK, cigarette prices have increased five fold in the last 15 years, and yet that, combined with a nation-wide indoor smoking ban, has seen only an approximate 5% drop in the number of smokers.

People simply switched from premium brands to ultra low priced brands, or hand rolling tobacco. What had a bigger impact on non-smokers exposure to second hand smoke was the smoking ban, so perhaps they should try the two combined.

[nicwr2002]

I think it does have an impact, at least for teenagers who only get money from their parents. If ciagrettes were 7000 won a pack they may change their mind if they want to be able to do something else with the money their parents gave them. I don't think there are many places to get roll tobacco in Korea also, as that was one of the main things that my English friend wanted me to bring back from the States.

There will still be those people who will smoke no matter what though, but at least it will cut down of smokers overall.

[newb]

They need to raise Soju price as well. Perhaps to 10k a bottle.

[optik404]

This just means more Soju will be consumed.

[Steelrails]

It will only be a matter of time before cigarettes get priced into the black market back home. At which point you'll have people thrown in jail for growing or smoking illegal tobacco. As if our government isn't already bleeding enough money away on the drug war.

People who are simple minded enough to think that just throwing massive taxes on cigarettes will only lead to less smokers and it "covering the costs of smoking" are ignoring the law of unintended consequences. What initially seems like a benign idea, will turn into a source of addiction for government revenue and lead to eventual corruption. Not to mention when you raise the price on an addictive substance, one that is as hard as heroin to quit, you're just leading to those addicts making poor decisions and likelier to engage in bad behavior- from bad financial decisions, to lashing out in violence and anger, to theft and fraud. To say nothing of the lost revenue that comes from people no longer hopping into stores to buy smokes and also picking up a bottle of green tea, some gum, and some little knick-knack.

[Stan Rogers]

It will simply create a new business for organized crime. The government should focus on health education. That will be more effective if they really want to promote healthy living habits.

[sigmundsmith]

[Steelrails]

[augustine]

I'm a closet smoker, but I hate being a smoker; it's a horrible real "drug" compared to falsely labeled "drugs" like marijuana which for some retarded reason remain illegal. Nicotine is a drug with essentially zero reward or value, that's driven up our asses simply because it's a "taxed drug", and it carries a serious death sentence. I'm not saying it should be illegal or untaxed, but a 2.7-7.0 raise on cigarettes prices? That's not going to happen here. It went from 2.5-2.7 for Marlboros last year, but I doubt they're going to all of a sudden create a +100% increase on cigarettes prices any time soon.

[Deja]

IIRC, there is a very strict anti-smoking law (smoking ban in virtually all closed spaces except parts of restaurants specifically made for it) in S. Korea, but it is not adhered to at all.

Education won't help here. Taxes won't help. Making it illegal might do something.
Most people who smoke don't give a f*** about the rest of us (heck, they don't even care of their own health, why would they care for ours?).

[Weigookin74]

Militant anti smokers are a bunch of collective whiners. As long as you're not blowing smoke in someone's face, then there's no problem. If folks want to smoke, let them. If they don't, then don't. There's already smoking bans inside most places, so what's the problem? If folks smoke outside, it's no one's business but theirs.

[atwood]

Higher taxes work:

[Steelrails]

[rockbilly]

Nicotine has been shown again and again, in controlled studies, to improve cognitive performance. Smokers suffer significantly less from neurological diseases, too.

Cigarettes have a life-enhancing and health-boosting value. That's why government demonizes them.