Question

Medical research has shown the negative health effects of “secondhand” smoke. Recent social trends point to growing intolerance of smoking in public areas. If you're a smoker and you wish to continue smoking despite tougher anti-smoking laws, describe the effect of the following legislative proposals on your behaviour. As a result of these programs, do you, the individual smoker, benefit? Does society benefit as a whole?

a. A bill is proposed that would lower tar and nicotine levels in all cigarettes.

b. A tax is levied on each pack of cigarettes.

c. A tax is levied on each pack of cigarettes sold.

d. Smokers would be required to carry government-issued smoking permits at all times.

Short answer

1. As a result of this bill, some smokers might start smoking more to maintain their level of nicotine consumption since they are addicted to consuming a certain amount; this benefits the producer and not the society.

2. This will reduce the consumption of cigarettes since the price will increase, and society will benefit.

3. This will also increase the price of cigarettes and benefit society.

4. The number of smokers will get reduced, and society will benefit.

Step-by-step solution

The consumption of the smoker will increase due to less nicotine in cigarettes

The lower levels of tar and nicotine will increase the number of cigarettes a smoker consumes since he is addicted to consuming a set of nicotine only. Such an increase in the consumption of cigarettes will increase the demand for cigarettes, so the producer will benefit by producing more. Society will suffer since increased consumption of cigarettes will also increase the pollutions levels.

Levy of tax will increase the price of cigarettes

Tax levied will be partly paid by the producer and partly by the consumer. This will increase the price of cigarettes both in terms of increased cost and reduced purchasing power. With the increase in the price, the demand for cigarettes will fall, resulting in lower consumption; lower consumption of cigarettes will result in good quality of air, increasing benefit of the society.

The price will increase if tax is levied on the pack of cigarettes sold

Whether tax is levied on packs sold or just generally on the pack of cigarettes, the tax will be shared by both the producers and the consumers. It will consequently increase the price of cigarettes. This will result in low consumption and low pollution, benefiting society.

Not all smokers will be able to get access to permits

Getting government permits is not easy; therefore, not all smokers will get a permit and smoke in public. Therefore this policy will successfully reduce smoking and will increase the quality of air. This will increase the overall social benefits of society.