Careless Tories!

[SithHappens]

Apparently only 3% 0f yoof smoke these days so its literally a dying habit, more worrying though is the rise in vapes, especially in young women.

vaping is disgusting too, leaving big clouds of stinking fumes and looks less cool still

[MadAmster]

Your so cynical MA, I mean how on earth can you not be impressed by the Long term decisions made to, improve the economy, fix the problems in the national health service, invigorate green energy industry, fix crumbling school buildings, improve trade and reduce costs for firms exporting to the EU, support entrepreneurs and businesses to grow?

Ah but, yes but, no but... apart from all that, what else have they FUBAR'ed?

[Andy_Faber]

vaping is disgusting too, leaving big clouds of stinking fumes and looks less cool still

That’s almost worse, because it gives ignorant folk the false impression that others want to share their sweet smelling second hand breath

[ramAnag]

One thing I'm supportive of is any measures to reduce those smoking. But what I just don't get is the number of young people who smoke, why? You'd have hoped education would have made them know its not big, clever or remotely cool.

Coincidentally Sith I’ve just, against my better judgement, bought 400 fags for a mate in Derby. It’s going on forty five years since I bought myself any but, looking at the graphic pictures on the packet...one of a dead young body and another of a tar filled lung...if that doesn’t stop people in their tracks then I doubt any amount of education will.
As for vaping...the information is so vague and the scientific findings so contradictory that I doubt Sunak’s distraction tactics are going to have any effect. So...agreeing with your thoughts on smoking and vaping but I don’t expect any real change any time soon.
Extending the debate to other less legal drugs, I honestly think it’s time for legislation to legalise them, thus ensuring better quality control, cutting out the squalid ‘middle man’ unscrupulous dealers and gaining some income via taxation.

[SithHappens]

The biggest step change I think was indoor smoking ban, its amazing how less tolerant I become, I coped with people smoking in pubs and restaurants for years, now if anyone lights up near me I'm fuming.

One of the best things the last Labour govt implemented imo.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Coincidentally Sith I’ve just, against my better judgement, bought 400 fags for a mate in Derby. It’s going on forty five years since I bought myself any but, looking at the graphic pictures on the packet...one of a dead young body and another of a tar filled lung...if that doesn’t stop people in their tracks then I doubt any amount of education will.
As for vaping...the information is so vague and the scientific findings so contradictory that I doubt Sunak’s distraction tactics are going to have any effect. So...agreeing with your thoughts on smoking and vaping but I don’t expect any real change any time soon.
Extending the debate to other less legal drugs, I honestly think it’s time for legislation to legalise them, thus ensuring better quality control, cutting out the squalid ‘middle man’ unscrupulous dealers and gaining some income via taxation.

I can't believe you've got away with smoking OP's for 45 years rA. Amazingly thick skin 😄

The loss of tax revenue is a huge deterrent against an outright ban, especially as there's a huge tail / lag on related NHS savings, given that the human ashtrays take so long to die off.

Legalising heroin and coke might allow the tax void to be filled, but I'm not convinced on the morality - albeit the end user price could stand a big tax take if you remove the profits taken by the supply chain.

[Andy_Faber]

The biggest step change I think was indoor smoking ban, its amazing how less tolerant I become, I coped with people smoking in pubs and restaurants for years, now if anyone lights up near me I'm fuming.

One of the best things the last Labour govt implemented imo.

Yes bravo to them, shame they couldn’t do anything about smokers smelling even when not smoking. We used to give a lift to matches to a young girl who reeked of fags, she lived in a house where FIVE adults smoked indoors, poor kid

[swaledale]

I can't believe you've got away with smoking OP's for 45 years rA. Amazingly thick skin ��

The loss of tax revenue is a huge deterrent against an outright ban, especially as there's a huge tail / lag on related NHS savings, given that the human ashtrays take so long to die off.

Legalising heroin and coke might allow the tax void to be filled, but I'm not convinced on the morality - albeit the end user price could stand a big tax take if you remove the profits taken by the supply chain.

Not sure legalising those drugs not currently legally available is to increase the tax take!! The morality argument is complex, who decides which drug is legal or illegal and on what basis?

But there was an interesting trial conducted by a Dr in Warrington, where heroin was provided on prescription and it had the following effect - it put the local dealers out of business, why buy heroin that's been cut to varying degrees when you can get it at a known strength. It reduced the burden on the health service as it reduced overdoes and infections due to dirty needle use, it enabled treatment to be offered to those that wanted it.

Of course the government shut it down, and continues rather hypocritically it might be add given certain members have admitted or are known to have used illegal drugs and wasn't every bathroom in the houses of parliament supposed to be contaminated with cocaine?

Prohibition and criminalisation hasn't worked its high time a more intelligent drugs policy was implemented.

[SithHappens]

I had missed this, but from what i am reading unless extra funds can be found HS2 will now stop at Old Oak Common (where?), so whats its supposed to save in time from Birmingham to London (Euston), half an hour ish? How long is it going to take to get off at Old Oak Somewhere or other, get on another train and then go to Euston?

[Andy_Faber]

I had missed this, but from what i am reading unless extra funds can be found HS2 will now stop at Old Oak Common (where?), so whats its supposed to save in time from Birmingham to London (Euston), half an hour ish? How long is it going to take to get off at Old Oak Somewhere or other, get on another train and then go to Euston?

I think they've reinstated the Euston bit