In Australia at the time I grew up we got a lot of British TV. One I still remember fondly is Yes, Minister (and the follow on Yes, Prime Minister). This to me

In Australia at the time I grew up we got a lot of British TV. One I still remember fondly is Yes, Minister (and the follow on Yes, Prime Minister). This to me was the golden age of British TV. Anyway, any talk of smoking taxes always reminds me of [1]. Australia is also a good example of the impact of high prices on smoking rates and the evidence strongly suggests hiking prices is the most effective way of bringing down smoking [2]. Still, profiting from death is an ethical issue. If the disastrous War on Drugs has taught us nothing it's that prohibition doesn't work so it's at worst the lesser of two evils. It is unfortunate that this does contribute to keeping some people poor however. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIMffhpZRw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIMffhpZRw [2]: https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-13-taxation/13-5-impact-of-price-increases-on-tobacco-consumpt https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-13-taxation/13...