Rip off UK

[ashworth]

Goldern Virginia 50g has gone up to 6.50 Euro at the local supermarket. But in the UK it would cost you £21. Wow!!!

[bedouin]

The duty alone in the UK is over £11, and then 20% VAT is charged on the duty.

[paully]

Quite right as well...filthy habit 

[Jamesy]

Goldern Virginia 50g has gone up to 6.50 Euro at the local supermarket. But in the UK it would cost you £21. Wow!!!

Sorry what's Golden Virginia? ( I assume tobacco, as I never smoked, I don't know all the brands)

Live and learn.....

[suendrob]

The government rake in all this revenue from smokers, then tells them not to use the product!

Even as a lifelong non-smoker, I support peoples right to smoke the heavily taxed stuff. If they banned the manufacture and sale of tobacco, then I'd support that. They can't really have it both ways - take the money and then tell people not to use their purchase.

Google 'tobacco tax profit' or similar and you'll find very detailed explanations from both sides.

Cheap tobacco in the sun - perfect for some people!

[bedouin]

The government rake in all this revenue from smokers, then tells them not to use the product!

Isn't the idea that the high duty/tax will dissuade people from buying the stuff?

[Riverman]

The government rake in all this revenue from smokers, then tells them not to use the product!

Isn't the idea that the high duty/tax will dissuade people from buying the stuff?

But it has the distinct advantage that I pay less taxes than I would if fewer peopled smoked.

[Ivemovedon]

You will never gain there. Knowing the taxman as we all do if they banned smoking and lost the revenue from that they would just raise taxes elsewhere to make up for it. Their answer to everything including health issues is tax it more. ...sugary drinks, alcohol and suchlike are there to take advantage of. Instead of getting to the root of the problem and targeting the overweight and alcoholics they tax it across the board and penalize sensible users as well as the abusers.

We know and they know adding a few pence to a litre of cola is not going to stop someone guzzling it that really wants to. But it looks good to the public in that they are trying to solve the problem, when in reality it is just a money spinner.