tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post6758539241299419330..comments2024-01-01T16:01:35.711+00:00Comments on Dick Puddlecote: New Zealand Public Rejects Plain PackagingDick Puddlecotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-76383487978525664362013-02-09T02:21:32.151+00:002013-02-09T02:21:32.151+00:00It is probable that both here and in NZ the legisl...It is probable that both here and in NZ the legislation will be shoved through. This is because politicians do not realise that the actually ARE NOT obliged BY LAW to implement the Framework Convention. There is no such law. Any Sovereign State has a perfect right to decide not to implement anything which it wishes not to. Treaties do not constitute LAW - they are just informal agreements. I use the word 'informal' advisedly since they are, and are intended to be, short-term. <br />What I believe is likely to happen is that the Zealots will continue to get away with their mad ramblings for the time being, but there will come a tipping point. Regarding tobacco, the tipping point could easily arrive. People who smoke a lot will find other sources of tobacco. But the really important thing is that those who smoke only a little (say, five cigs per day) just stop. That is not what Government want. Government wants a nice, gradual 2% per an reduction. But we all know that it does not work that way. <br />Government depends upon the 'light' smokers to continue to buy their 5 cigs per day. The 50 per day (if they have any sense) will already have made 'alternative arrangements'. When the 5 per day people realise that they can very easily, for a few pounds, cut their costs by about 80%, the Government take from tobacco will dissolve. <br />Because of the decimation of the pub industry, the Gov must already be feeling the effects of the loss of VAT income from alcohol, even if not Duty income. It must be so. <br />The problem. of course, is that politicians never ever see the root of the problem. They blunder about, hither and thither, That is because they create committees of which the membership is precisely the people who created the problem in the first place. <br />Our political system stinks worse than smokers. It is not difficult to see why. It is because the BIG, IMPORTANT MATTERS are undecided. They should be decided and sorted post haste. <br />Question: Who permitted the EU to have any involvement in in HEALTH?Junicannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-18700476540343606662013-02-08T17:20:21.239+00:002013-02-08T17:20:21.239+00:00"They'll probably say (in both countries)...<i>"They'll probably say (in both countries) that because the tobacco industry encouraged people to participate in the consultation that the votes against plain packaging have been declared invalid"</i><br /><br /><br />Funny you should say that, keep watching this space in the next few days. ;)Dick_Puddlecotenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-53527461291564777362013-02-08T16:00:13.436+00:002013-02-08T16:00:13.436+00:00They'll probably say (in both countries) that ...They'll probably say (in both countries) that because the tobacco industry encouraged people to participate in the consultation that the votes against plain packaging have been declared invalid, thus leaving them with massive public support for the idea. And on that basis (the massive public support plus all the "scientific evidence" showing how successful it is / will be) they will be introducing plain packaging forthwith.nisakimannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-58361363992046221892013-02-08T12:39:42.899+00:002013-02-08T12:39:42.899+00:00Worryingly though, we already know that they don&#...Worryingly though, we already know that they don't really care what we think. It will, however, be interesting to see how they spin the post-consultative policy making.Steve Wintersgillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-64602859087323666352013-02-08T12:38:51.294+00:002013-02-08T12:38:51.294+00:00The reporter is probably just bitter that he's...The reporter is probably just bitter that he's too young to buy tobacco....Fred Barboonoreply@blogger.com