No government will ban smoking, that would be killing the Golden Goose.
As an ex smoker, if I were to play God for a day, tobacco would be the first thing to go. Alcohol.......er....um.....horse betting would be the next.
The human chimney pays all along, first in tobacco profits then in revenue and finally in health.

Fair enough ^_^

We are probably drifting off topic but I cant let the misinformation about tobacco costs lie unchallenged. If you look at the total picture the costs of tobacco (and other drugs) is grim and there is no way they could be said to pay their way. The most recent detailed figures for 1999 can be found at http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/other/ndsmono49.html

It is true that as far as the government is concerned smoking raises more money than it costs - in 1999 it raised $2.7B more than it spent. However the government only pays for about 11% of the total costs of smoking - businesses and individuals pay most of the rest. In 1999 the cost to society of tobacco was around $21B, of which smokers contributed about $5B. Whether non-smokers pay for smokers directly through taxes, or indirectly through insurance premiums and increased living costs matters little.

AndrewM

Thank you for the report on illicit drugs interspersed with tobacco and alcohol, which last time I looked were legal drugs. At least it backs up my figure of 2.8 billion in revenue. But what a lot of drivel the report was. Smokers are 1.2 times more likely to have sickies, has any research into people who eat a packet of Tim Tams a day been done?

The 21 Billion figure was for illicit drugs not tobaccco. My post was meant in jest. yours is factually wrong.

Steve

I was not equating tobacco with illegal drugs (which I believe cause more damage than is commonly recognised despite the relatively low economic damage attributed to them). I was merely challenging the incorrect and unsourced figures that you presented.

Have a look at page IX of the executive summary, but if you dont believe the government you probably wont believe me when I quote page 59 of the report which says " Of the total social cost of drug abuse in 1998-9 of $34.4 billion, tobacco accounted for approximately $21.1 billion, alcohol for $7.6 billion and illicit drugs $6.1 billion"

I think we have to take notice of the example of our Asian neighbours;strengthen the family unit and rely on Govt handouts a lot less.Govt handouts have just created huge numbers of unemployable people.People will have to learn to become more self reliant.Many young people who just finish school just use the dole as a means of extending their holidays.

Australia will soon have no manufacturing industry.Many other IT jobs are being outsourced overseas.

Are we to become a nation of pooch washers,lawn mowers,glue applicators[ie tradesmen] and social workers?

As Kerry has suggested,we have to look at the consequences futher down the track,especially time for families to interact and consolidate their future.