temporaryuser

Try harder, on the first point if you assume the revenue derived from Tobacco sales entirely to the NHS then maybe you'd have a point, I think that is highly unlikely to be the case. The Forbes article doesn't take into the account that a 'Healthy person' despite costing more over their lifetime will also contribute more over their lifetime because they live longer. I'm not just talking financially (although that is the case) but think about their relationships with families etc. I bet there are quite a few of us who have had friends/relatives die long before their time thanks to smoking.

Temporary account as I know some colleagues use this site. I think benefits should not be allowed to be spent on alcohol or cigarettes. You should only be able to get a basic TV package /(Freeview, whatever) not Sky, Virgin etc. I think a basic internet connection is extremely valuable as well. You basically should get the basics for most benefits. Some benefits (for example long term illness or disability) would be entitled to more. It annoys the hell out of me when through my job I see people I know to be on benefits smoking. It makes me think basically I am paying through my taxes for you to smoke which incidentally is also going to cost me more for the nearly inevitable medical conditions due to your smoking. You can also buy booze and get drunk causing trouble (police cost) and more medical issues (NHS cost). Grrr:mad: