Scrap the cigarette tax

[Supermanpolitician]

The unions insist they be included. They argue that a lot of their members smoke and drink and so are affected by price rises. The government would love to exclude them from inflation figures, especially when it comes to wage negotiations with the unions. Using the same reasoning, the unions want tobacco and alcohol prices kept in.

Surely if the unions discouraged their members from smoking, this would allow their members to be healthier.

[Odyessus]

Surely if the unions discouraged their members from smoking, this would allow their members to be healthier.

You must take that up with the unions. In any event, the higher the official inflation figure, the higher the unions can pitch their wage increase demands, regardless of how many of their members smoke.

[Supermanpolitician]

You must take that up with the unions. In any event, the higher the official inflation figure, the higher the unions can pitch their wage increase demands, regardless of how many of their members smoke.

Interesting point. The unions lobbied for the smoking ban in pubs to protect their workers, exactly the correct function of a union and fair play to them for that.

But are we sure that cigs are actually included in the CPI? I honestly don't know but would welcome info.

[Odyessus]

Interesting point. The unions lobbied for the smoking ban in pubs to protect their workers, exactly the correct function of a union and fair play to them for that.

But are we sure that cigs are actually included in the CPI? I honestly don't know but would welcome info.

Yes they are. The government proposed removing them from the CPI arguing that every time they put punitive taxes on cigarettes it had a disproportionate effect on inflation figures. The unions objected, ostensibly because a lot of their members smoke, others believe their real reasoning was that the government wanted to massage the inflation figure downwards so they could offer lower pay increases. Of course these reasons are not mutually exclusive; it is a matter of opinion which one predominates in union thinking.

[NorthKildare]

Interesting topic.

I see your arguments and they do have merit. Taxes on cigarettes do hit the poor more, as it is one of their few pleasures in life.

However as the poor use the public health system more it does sort of equal out when they get sick from smoking! As they paid all the taxes on the cigarettes in the first place!