Tobacco and its derivatives are the worst disease to have infected the Muslim world in general and the Kingdom in particular. Statistics show that the Arab countries are at top of the list of major tobacco consumers in the world. The reason behind this is the fact that money is available for those people who want to buy cigarettes, light up and then puff their health into smithereens.
Because smokers seem to have a lot of disposable income, then why shouldn’t some of that money go to the government as a sort of punishment to smokers? What I am calling for here is an increase in taxation on smokers that would ultimately add an extra burden on them.
Let me cite the example of the largest cigarette producer in the world. Californians voted in support of a proposal to add extra tax on each packet of cigarettes sold. They asked for $2.6 on every packet, which is equal to SR10. This increased the price of a packet of cigarettes to $6.4 (SR24).
Supporters of this increase say that the additional tax would bring more than $2 billion to the state coffers. Secondly, because people will think twice before smoking and cut down on the habit in the long run, the cost of health care in the state will drop by more than $16 million.
I think it is high time to add extra tax on this forbidden product. Why not sell a packet of cigarettes to those that want to buy at SR20? The extra money should go to general projects and medical research. I think we also should launch a campaign against tobacco smugglers and properly punish them.
When camera cell phones were against Saudi law, customs officials placed severe punishments on those who tried smuggling them into the Kingdom. The same approach should apply to tobacco smugglers. We can fight this problem by increasing the price or by forbidding smoking once and for all.
