Quote:
Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout
Here's the thing. It's NOT making smoking illegal. It's already illegal, NZ is just keeping it that way. If you can legally smoke, nothing changes. If it's illegal for you to smoke. Nothing changes.
Will there be an increase in the black market? I'd be shocked if it didn't. However, will the detriment of the black market increase be offset by the benefit of less power smoking, and having a healthier population? Probably.
Just because there's a cost, doesn't mean the cost outweighs the benefit. You need to run the analysis.
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There has already been an increase to the black market in New Zealand from higher taxes.
Not allowing people to buy cigarettes doesn't mean people will completely stop smoking.
But it does mean the government will not be getting taxes anymore to treat the still existing cost to the health care system.