[YankeeReb]

If they really wanted you to stop smoking they'd ban it. Sure you'd have the black market but smoking rates would drop significantly. The dirty little (not so) secret is that they're as addicted to the tax revenue from smoking as the smokers are to the nicotine. The thing I'd love to see is everyone wake up one day and stop smoking cold turkey, then watch the politicians scream about loss of tax revenue.

Don't believe it? Go to a town hall meeting some day when the politicians are threatening to put tolls on the roads. Their complaint is almost always that since people are driving less and using more efficient cars the revenue from the gas tax is down. It's the same principle at work.

[kabar]

You nailed it.

[Zeddicus]

I agree it’s all about the revenue. But smoking also helps sustain the health care system. I have many patients with COPD, lung cancer, and heart disease who require my services specifically because they smoke.