Smoking Is Cost-Effective
The premature deaths of smokers has economic benefits, according to a controversial report commissioned by the leading US cigarette manufacturer, Philip Morris.The report found that the Czech Republic saved about USD 147 million in 1997 through the deaths of smokers who would not live to use healthcare or housing for the elderly. Compiled as a cost-benefit analysis to the Czech government, the study weighted the savings against the income tax lost and cost of caring for smokers before they died.
"Smoking to end by 2050"
Smoking could “virtually disappear” in Britain within half a century, according to research by Citigroup. The broker has considered what a decline in smoking means for the tobacco industry. The habit has been on the wane since the 1960s, when just over half of adults in Britain smoked. That figure had dropped to a fifth by 2008. "The percentage of smokers is declining across the developed world, and the declines are more or less in a straight line in most markets," said the analysts. “If these trends continue, then by 2050, many important tobacco markets will have gone to zero smoking.” But Citigroup stressed that these were “extremely long-term” trends.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8246967/Smoking-could-disappear-by-2050-says-Citigroup.html
Delivery device for nicotine
(download)
At just the tender age of two, Ardi Rizal's health has been so ruined by his habit of smoking 40 cigarettes a day that he now struggles to move by himself. The four-stone toddler's condition is set to rapidly deteriorate. Ardi, who is rarely seen without a cigarette, insists on the same brand, which costs his parents £3.78 a day. Local officials offered to buy the family a new car if the boy quits, but Ardi's parents feel unable to stop him because he throws massive tantrums if they do not indulge him. "He is totally addicted. If he does not get cigarettes, he gets angry and screams and batters his head against the wall," Ardi's mother wept. Ardi's youth is the extreme of a disturbing trend. Data from the Central Statistics Agency showed 25% of Indonesian children aged three to 15 have tried cigarettes, with 3.2% of those active smokers. The percentage of five to nine year olds lighting up increased from 0.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2004, the agency reported. Child advocates are speaking out about the health damage to children from second-hand smoke and the pressure to smoke. One-third of Indonesians smoke tobacco. Seto Mulyadi, chairman of Indonesia's child protection commission, blames the increase on aggressive advertising and parents who are smokers.
Poor care for vice more than kids
In the Congolese village of Mont-Belo, we met a bright fourth grader, Jovali Obamza, who is about to be expelled from school because his family is three months behind in paying fees. Jovali's dad, Georges Obamza, weaves straw stools that he sells for $1 each. He said that the family is eight months behind on its $6-a-month rent and is in danger of being evicted, with nowhere to go."It's hard to get the money to send the kids to school," Mr Obamza explained, a bit embarrassed. But Mr Obamza and his wife, Valerie, have cellphones and spend a combined $10 a month on call time. In addition, Mr Obamza goes drinking at a village bar, spending about $1 an evening on moonshine. That adds up to about $12 a month -- almost as much as the family rent and school fees combined.
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