by Richard Penn

Created on: August 08, 2008

As a smoker, I believe that we should pay for the increased burden we place on the health system. But I believe I already do. I smoke a packet of twenty cigarettes a day, at a cost of 5 a packet. I pay 4 a day toward my care, in tobacco taxes. That's 1460 a year. By the time I die a horrible death around age 55, as experts all stipulate, I will have contributed the equivalent (taking into account inflation) of 51,000. I think that oughtta take care of the bill.

Regarding the state of health of non-smokers in the company of smokers, I can't vouch for other smokers, but I have never had the bad manners to do that. Far from believing it is our right to inflict smoke on others, I understand that the smell alone can be repulsive to non-smokers. That takes care of the so-called 'second-hand smoke' cost. My bill is in credit.

Have you ever wondered why it costs so much to take care of a patient? I can imagine each ventilator mouthpiece, each bed, change of laundry, syringe, kidney bowl, scanning equipment, adds up to a significant amount. Behind that are the doctors, nurses, pharmaceutical companies and their staff, surgical instrument companies, magazine vendors and publishers you've got to have something to read in hospital, florists and countless others. That is a lot of people; a lot of livelihoods; paid for out of my pocket.

One thing that stands out when looking through these articles,is the apparent disdain with which each side looks upon the other. I sometimes ponder about the neat arguments given by people who have never smoked. It seems an easy thing to just to stop the thing that is damaging your body. Do they drink, I wonder? I don't. One drink can have devastating effects on numerous lives. One drink can easily upset an evening, destroy a relationship, or end in someone's death, not necessarily that of the drinker. Alcohol is also taxed. But what is the cost of social disruption, policing, cleaning up vomit, the psychological and physical effects involving multiple victims? And all this, quite apart from the long-term medical effects. Mark my words The day is coming when people too, will look disapprovingly down their nose at you and say Oh you drink.'

Nicotine is not mind-altering. It does not cause you to do stupid things you would never otherwise do. It does not induce hallucinations or paranoia. It is, however, highly addictive, and people who get on their high horse about it ought to realise this first and foremost.

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