The government needs the money and those us us who smoke will have to decide if we really need to continue. This is far better than taxing things people need, and hopefully will result in less packs of cigarettes sold.

Smokers cost the country millions of dollars in health bills and medical problems. Respiratory problems and cardiac problems come from smokers and perhaps this tax can help the Medical sector carry those patients.

At least 1 shekel in additional tax, and how about making smokers sign waivers against state-funded lung cancer and emphysema treatment if they reach age 40 and still haven't quit?

he would like to comment but its a bit difficult from his prison cell !

the money from the taxes to the Israel Cancer Association (ICA).

All the world knows it must drop taxes and the idiot Litman wants to raise taxes.Let Litman and his haridi pay normanl everyday taxes and there will be an over abundant flow os cash.

Smokes in CANADA very expensive due to taxes. Cant even see them in a store...must be covered up. Get rid of this cancer causing garbage. Its garbage and esp in the yeshivas, the rabbis if they gave a damn will outlaw it. Be healthy, be strong, eat, excercise, learn, build muscle and learn to shoot and fight. Be a strong nation and defeat your enemies.

it's not enough. One shekel tax will not deter smoking. A tax of 6 to 10 shekels would help people decide to quit. The revenues can be used to help pay hospital care for patients with smoking related illness.

Income taxes, Colin, not dangerously unhealthy luxury items. For those, the state can at least profit a bit and discourage its use, thus allowing the state some further economic leeway - to whit, giving it money from sources other than income tax. Encouraging economic fluidity to prevent stagnation is one thing - costing the state a small fortune in health bills is quite another.

In New York City they raised the taxes on cigaretts over and over again until now it is almost $10 a pack. There is very little downside. Either Israelis will stop smoking or cancer research has additional funds. The only down side is that the black market (and all the crime associated with it) will thrive. Here is NY, the program has been a success. Those people who were occasional smokers gave it up.

Do not seperate what is a luxury..Living to-day is luxury. Cars,resturants

colin

(04.27.09)

It's killing Jews.

Here's a hint - I do. As do all law-abiding citizens of Israel, which happens to include the Haredim as well. Or did you somehow think a stereotype is more real than actual reality? Pretty much *all* Haredim pay their taxes - many just don't get to the higher percentages of the income taxes because they don't *earn* enough to get there. Perhaps you'd like to institute a special Haredi Tax to make you feel better about yourself? As for your rather amusing claim about luxuries... cars aren't luxuries, for one, because public transportation is pretty slow and people need to work for a living - and to work, people actually need to *get* to work. TV's are information distribution mediums, so don't count as full-scale luxury items as well. Restaurants sell food, and we need said food to subsist - they also serve as a good meeting place. And what's important, and what you missed, is that none of these items are a health risk and endless state expense by their very definition - cigarettes are.

Alcohol drinkers are also risking their health. Why are only smokers being singled out?

Good!!! Finally something intelligent from the Health Ministry.