Your say: Are government 'sin taxes' fair?

I agree with this concept for two reasons 1 a large % of smokers (I am tempted to say all) are not able to use a rubbish bin (must be too complicated). Plenty of proof of this just look where the smokers congregate. The person who cleans up after you needs to be paid and you should pay the price. 2 We know that smoking contributes to bad health, so this will catch up to you eventually and then the health system must pay for your treatment, so yes you should contribute more as you will be using more benefits later on. Here is an idea, stop the sin taxes, fine the guy who drops a ***, and every time they buy a pack of smokes they should have to sign a page which is sent to the department of health and when they develop a medical problem due to smoking, they are not covered for the treatment by medicare. Alcohol is very similar, broken bottles all over the place, and health risks.

What a lot b..s.... I dont drink or smoke. Am I still live in a democratic country Am I??? People make choices and thats what life is all about. For me this whole thing is lot of rubbish. There are better things to spend on..

I cannot believe for one minute that the government really cares about it's people the reason behind the tax is because the government wants more money out of us and this is just another excuse of getting more money out of us.

I cannot believe for one minute that the reason behind the taxes is because the government cares about so much about it's people. Let's face it the government wants more money out of us and this is just another excuse for getting more money out of us.

Our elected govenment and sanctimoniuos leader with their obvious repressive ideology continue in this vein, I say, bring on the next election

i think that if ppl are already spending there money on these 'sinful' items, then raising the price wont stop that. they will go without something else if they need to

This would have to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard!!! A Sin Tax? Who says smoking and drinking are a sin? Excessive amounts yes, as it would come under the sin of greed. But isn't putting more taxes on these items for more money greed in itself? Two wrongs do not make a right. I'm not a smoker or a drinker, but I do believe in choice and people to make they're own decisions. If these items WERE such a sin then they'd be illegal!!! As it stands they are not, so NO taxes should be implicated! What's next Prohibition!!!!? The Govt should stop nit picking and looking for quick fixes and actually try and help the nation instead of provoking it!

All this is going to do is increase the amount of shop lifting and other petty crime. People will get mugged in the street for their smokes. Only a completely disconnected from reality politician or psuedo intellectual would even think that this idea will work.

I drink, I smoke & I drive - my choice (and as far as I'm aware all are still legal). For all those who don't like it - tough. I pay my taxes so don't tell me what I can & cannot do. All you do-gooders get off your high & mighty stages - Personally I'm sick & tired of all your bull**it - get a life.

The wowsers claim that by raising the prices or placing extra taxes on these "bad for you" goods, people will give them up and we will all live happily & healthily ever after. What rot & what a rort! What has happened to being responsible for our own well being and making choices be they right or wrong.