70% UN Tax On Tobacco

[zack24]

This is one I definitely didn't see coming. The US, Switzerland, and Indonesia were not signers to the accord- not that that will matter because it looks like the tax will apply to the manufacturer in the country of origin....

UN Legislation on Tobacco Tax

 

[leacha]

So cigarettes will be the new marijuana if the US jumps on board. I'm glad my favorite baccys are from the US.

 

[brudnod]

Mr. Laffer seems to agree with the cessation of smoking but not the global taxation of a commodity. That seems a bit disingenuous coming from an industry proponent. Our cellars will be a bit more dear if this comes through and unfortunately may be the demise of some pipe tobacco companies who exist on a thin profit margin. It should be interesting, if not frightening, to see how and when this gets implemented.

 

[papipeguy]

This from the most ineffectual body in the world. I reckon that like most proposals from this august body it will be a moot gesture and feckless attempt to justify their existence. When in doubt, go for the easy marks.

 

[sablebrush52]

Nothing will come directly from this. But eventually, tobacco will be taxed, though more likely with some kind of gradual increases over a period of years. I've cellared enough for a decade of so, which is likely more than I will ever need.

 

[northernneil]

I'm curious how they would distribute the monies collected through this tax. Or, is this a way for the WHO and UN to cash in on the money grab that is tobacco tax?

 

[mso489]

I'm some kind of an optimistic space cadet, I guess, but the idea that they will create a black market that will

criminalize pipe tobacco strikes me as so absurd it can't happen, although it seems it is somewhat likely.

Cans of PA under the bed. Simply nuts. I guess Denture Cream is next; three hundred percent tax and

the oldsters will have to buy it on the corner and the cops can throw them in the slammer and strip search

them.

 

[wyfbane]

If you'd have said 15 years ago that the US would look the way it does now you'd get the 'strikes me as so absurd it can't happen' reply as well from a great many people...
I loathe the UN. It costs us billions of dollars so the various peoples of the world can get together and do nothing productive.
And don't even get me started on their 'peacekeeping' abilities. Ask the widows of Srebrenica for more on that...

 

[natibo]

Being in Europe for the week makes you realize how low are tobacco taxes are in the states.

 

[huntertrw]

"But eventually, tobacco will be taxed, though more likely with some kind of gradual increases over a period of years."
Incrementalism: That's the secret of success behind the cancer of liberalism, fascism, socialism, et al.

 

[wyfbane]

I(!) don't expect more service. I completely understand how you don't get something for nothing.
This country has been conditioned that there will always be a "service", whether there are taxes to fund it or not.
It is not dissimilar from the conditioning the east Germans got before the reintegration. When the west merged, they were all excited... until they found the social condition of the east. It took them 10 years longer to bounce their economy back then they thought.
America needs to learn that nothing is free. And then they need to learn to stop dishing the bill on our great great grandchildren.

 

[woodsroad]

Eurocrats are the new royalty. Here is a video of them debating this new tax:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4adsftWSfW8

 

[brudnod]

Very nice and possibly not so far from the truth...

 

[lordnoble]

Please keep your discussions to the original post and the UN's tobacco tax. Any other political discussions are prohibited.
-Jason

 

[woodsroad]

The UN Tobacco Tax is a very good example of why we are better off than Europeans in many aspects. Not because our taxes are lower, but because they are subject to the rule of law imposed by a body that they do not vote for. Although a similar argument could be made vis-à-vis the unelected regulatory bureaucracy here in the US, it is a far cry from politicians sitting in Brussels or the UN passing taxes down on us.
Any time that I hear the silly argument about how "lucky" we are to have taxes that are lower than the Euro's, I do a forehead slap on myself.
We are not "lucky".
We have chosen things to be so.

"Yet we moan and complain about all of it--all the while expecting high levels of service"

With all due respect, Patrick, to a man, every sensible person that I know expects nothing from gubbmint other than that which is enumerated in the Constitution. Which would include tobacco taxes, if the electorate votes in politicians so inclined to support them.

 

[lucky695]

hmmm gonna buy me some of that Dunhill pound special I guess ad to the cellar.

 

[wyfbane]

Sorry, Jason!

 

[fitzy]

Insane.