What would happen to the economy if there were no smokers?

United States
March 8, 2009 7:32pm CST
Okay, its a dirty habit, I know. But what most don't know is that we are the highest taxed group of people, but have the least rights. In Ohio, if you aren't outside or in your own home, you can't smoke, and they want to make it illegal for us to even smoke outside. We pay the most taxes, which goes to various things in the city and state where the smokers are taxed. I just ran across another discussion speaking of a person whose cigarette tax went up a whole dollar in the past week. They said they have downgraded to rolling tobacco and papers, which would probably make them smoke less and quit altogether. This made me think, what if all the smokers in the United States just stopped buying cigarettes and other tobacco products? Yes, a lot of non-smokers would be happy at first, but I feel that it would do more hurt than good. I don't know exactly where tobacco tax money is spent, but whatever programs that is would suffer. Would roads not be paved? Would schools suffer? I don't know where the money goes, but if everyone stopped smoking, those things would be hurt, if not eliminated altogether. And if they aren't eliminated, that means that new taxes would be levied. Is it that important that we don't smoke outside that you non-smokers will pay more taxes for it? I guess lawmakers think they have us over a barrel, because we have a habit that must be fed, but everyone has their breaking point. If the tax makes cigarettes unaffordable for the consumer, people will stop buying. If that happens, the tax revenue will have to be made up somewhere. It will cause a chain reaction that will affect everyone, not just smokers. Now a question for everyone. Is this what you want? Should they continue to raise taxes on cigarettes until we stop buying, and it becomes everyone's financial problem, or should they find another way to gather this revenue?
9 people like this
8 responses
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
10 Mar 09
Personally, I feel the economy will not suffer if there are no smokers. Somehow, someone will find something to tax on. New explorations and findings are always evolving and getting more advanced and improved.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Mar 09
Definitely not! Especially since I am one of the smokers footing the bill!. But seriously, people should not be allowed to enjoy life at no one groups expense. It ends up being a situation like Darkjedi explained below.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
10 Mar 09
Do you think it is fair to enjoy life at the smokers' expense?
1 person likes this
@Krisneil (577)
• Philippines
9 Mar 09
haha if no smokers!! The tobaco industries will fall, many jobs will lost, all smokers will suffer , non smokers will became happy, the air will clean a bit, That what is happen.. we dont need to consider the economy if there is no smokers cause there are many ways to gather resources,Hmmm ways to gather revenue? I think i have no idea.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Mar 09
I did say economy, but I should have said State government, because that is who it will affect first, and by way of that, the people in each state. I know there are other ways to gather revenue, even if it is to spread the tax a little more evenly across everyone.
@Krisneil (577)
• Philippines
11 Mar 09
yeah they help the economy down XDD
1 person likes this
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
9 Mar 09
I hate cig. so It dosen't affect me. I quit 30 years ago, I feel sorry for the people that still smoke. Have a great day! By the way i live in Ohio too, Rock and Roll hall of Fame, Thats a hint.
1 person likes this
• Canada
9 Mar 09
Hmmm.... maybe if people didn't smoke, there'd be more money leftover to spend on other things. Maybe people would be able to put money into savings, or spend it on day to day life instead of having to take out loans. Who knows? I'm sure the average smoker smokes enough money up into the air to pay for grocceries to feed two people a month.
1 person likes this
@beeeckie (802)
• United States
10 Mar 09
There would be a definite difference for the negative in the economy, tax-wise, if everyone suddenly stopped smoking. (Same for drinking and lottery--it's all sin-tax.) However, smoking is technically a voluntary tax, since you don't have to do it. Massachusetts recently raised the tax a dollar as well. If everyone stopped smoking, they'd spend the smoke money on something else anyway.
1 person likes this
@Raven7317 (691)
• United States
9 Mar 09
WOW, I was JUST discussing this exact question with my man today! We both smoke and out cigs are now over $7/pack. The last time smokes went up, we sat down and figured out we were spending over $350/month on our habit! We resolved to quit but have only succeeded in cutting down to 1/2 pack a day each. And then the increase hit again this past Sunday and I was just saying to him that the state is making it a luxury, too expensive to indulge and will see alot of people quitting, thereby erasing all that tax income! Also, alot of MA smokers, if they don't already, will start heading to NH to buy smokes... But when you put it the way that you did - "...stop buying and it becomes everyone's financial problem..." I guess I could go either way. Why shouldn't non-smokers contribute equal taxes to the state? As a smoker, I hate that I have to pay more than other citizens, just because i have an addiction.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
9 Mar 09
Thta is not a problem just confined to US. There are smokers all over the world and we are ALL paying taxes. Some countries vary but all are getting a lot from us smokers. It's a good point you raise. I shall be giving up if they go up any more here and I will not be the only one to do so. Maybe gas would get taxed more in US if everyone stopped?
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Mar 09
Well, you know I am only knowledgeable in what is happening here on this side of the water! You're right, something else would end up being taxed more if everyone stopped smoking in a certain area, or even if the majority stopped buying so many. What I really don't get is most of us know this is a nasty habit, and many are trying to quit. But raising the price on the things doesn't help anyone, except maybe the politicians. If government keeps raising the tax, and then relying on that revenue, they will find that the revenue won't be there, because most won't be able to afford it.
• United States
9 Mar 09
well i think everyone would be drinking instead and then the government would tax the alchol just like they are with the cigs.. lol im not a smoker but my friends are and well its outrageous on how much you guys pay on that habit. could you imagine the cars, clothes, and houses you could buy with all the money you have spend on cigs. its funny. well i think if there were no smokers, there would be something else they would find to tax like crazy and make money off of the people.
• United States
9 Mar 09
You are right, its a mess how much we spend on this nasty habit. My argument is that it's our habit. We shouldn't be forced to quit, or exploited because of a habit. We are people just like everyone else, and just because we have a bad habit we shouldn't be anymore indebted to the government than anyone else.