Please Don't Not Smoke

To follow up on Smoking for Health Care, it's being reported today that the proposed €1 cigarette tax will not be imposed all at once on January 1, but will instead be introduced in stages of 40, 30 and 30 cents. The government otherwise fears a drastic drop in cigarette use and an impact on expected revenue from the new tax.

That's refreshing honesty, albeit a bit cynical. The government would rather have smokers die than quit. Just make sure you buy a few cartons extra before you go.