Because prohibition has a history of working really well and doesn't at all create black markets that are far worse for peoples health /s
this post was submitted on 22 Apr 2026
33 points (94.6% liked)
Europe
945 readers
53 users here now
Europe community on dbzer0. Intended to be a place to discuss European news, politics, or just general topics from a European perspective. Since this is on dbzer0 expect the community to lean more leftist-anarchist but a wide range of views are accepted here (within reason).
Rules:
1. No Bigotry or Hate Speech
Any forms of Homophobia, Transphobia, Queerphobia, Racism, or Ableism will be met with swift and harsh action and will not be tolerated here whatsoever. Bigots will be banned immediately on-sight. This includes apologia of it.
Trying to be politely or intellectually bigoted i.e. "Just asking questions" won't be tolerated.
2. No Zionism
Any forms of Zionism or Zionist rhetoric will not be tolerated here, this includes Zionist apologia, accusations of antisemitism towards anti-Zionists, or blatant denial or downplaying of the genocide towards Palestinians. Any attempt to uphold or prop up the IHRA definition of antisemitism, will be treated as Zionism.
Anyone engaging in Pro-Zionist sentiment or apologia will be actioned in accordance with its severity.
Note: Trying to find loopholes or whataboutery to see what is or isn't genocide denial or Zionism will be treated as a violation of this rule. Don't test us.
3. Stay Civil
Please maintain civil discourse in the community. Do not engage in arguments with others, name-calling, or insults. Note that calling out bigotry or Zionism is not considered an insult. In heated arguments users are encouraged to or even required to disengage failure to do so will result in mod action.
4. No Misinformation
Spreading of misinformation intentionally in this community is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Spreading misinformation hurts the credibility of the community and can mislead people sometimes in dangerous ways. Users who intentionally post misinformation as articles, comment answers, or in attempt to win arguments will be actioned swiftly.
Note: This includes Russian and Chinese propaganda. Users with a history of such posting will be banned on sight.
5. No AI Content
Please do not post articles or content primarily created using generative AI. Generative AI content may contain misinformation or be lower quality and thus is discouraged. Posts and comments featuring it will be removed. However this community does not allow or tolerate Anti-AI trolling or hostility and users who engage in such behavior will be actioned for it, additionally Anti-AI trolling violates Rule 3 and often Rule 4 so it is generally unacceptable already.
Note: Rules 1 & 2 may be subject to preemptive mod action due to their severity, and they apply to a user's entire post history. Not just this community.
founded 11 months ago
MODERATORS
I don’t see people being so desperate for cigarettes to the point they’d be looking for black market solutions. It’s not like they’re banning all nicotine products either.
My city implemented nighttime prohibition of alcohol sale in shops few years ago. Many people said it wouldn’t solve anything because of black market. Stats shows less crime, less littering. No black market activity to be found because it’s not a big deal.
I don’t see people being so desperate for cigarettes to the point they’d be looking for black market solutions
LOL!
puffs knowingly in South African.
Well yeah, but you also live in a lawless apartheid state.
Our laws were copied from yours, Sonny Jim (must be why they work so well.
So is our white supremacism.
Then you under estimate people entirely! Take weed as an example which is drastically less addictive than nicotine and yet there is a thriving black market for that to the point that people in some Asian countries risk (and recently did get) execution to supply it to people.
To say there are still nicotine products available too doesn't really address it either. As an ex smoker myself I would take a cigarette over any of the other nicotine products available, any day of the week. It doesn't matter that most people hate the taste or smell or whatever, there will still be plenty of people that also prefer it regardless of your thoughts about it. Also it is called the "tobacco and capes bill" which implies it isn't just traditional cigarettes but it also doesn't make it clear either way
Add on top of that why should a government be dictating what people put into their bodies, people should have the right to buy and consume whatever they like. Fair enough ban its use in public so it isn't actively effecting anyone else but what people do in their own homes is their own choice.
If you want to try the strain and cost to healthcare services argument as well then why aren't you banning alcohol too as that is one of the most problematic substances in the world in terms of being the most addictive and most physically damaging to people. So that argument is dead in the water.
Banning sale at certain times is very different from an outright ban as well. That still allows people to make the choice they want regarding what they want to consume, they just have to get it according to a schedule which, as you say, does help in terms of anti social behaviour at the like if people who ate already fucked up can't get more to continue on down that road.
All this is is another authoritarian move to dictate what people can and can't do with their own lives and own bodies under the guise of "helping people" or "helping society" all the while things like alcohol which is statistically one of the worst substances out there is allowed because it is more socially acceptable.
I just gave you an example of prohibition that didn’t result in anything other than people not going out drunk to buy more alcohol. It works, seen first hand.
You’re not going to be an ex smoker if you didn’t get addicted to cigarettes in the first place, which I don’t think is worth the effort if it’s illegal. Also an ex-smoker. Wake me up when 17 year olds look for illegal cigs when vapes are more accessible. That one hipster guy who needs it for the looks doesn’t count.
Why government should dictate what we do? That’s what we have them for. There is such thing as too much freedom because it results in effectively less freedom for a regular Joe and more freedom for tobacco companies. Nation states with functional governments are a form of defence against anarchy because anarchy is just an intermediate step towards monarchy.
No you didn't, you gave an example of regulation not prohibition and regulation can work because it still gives people the freedom of choice but helps to regulate things within areas that are problems for society, like your example.
Again you seem to think you can just speak on behalf of millions of people. I don't think cocaine is worth the effort personally but that doesn't mean there isn't a massive global black market for it.
You seem to be missing my point entirely, I'm not sure if intentionally just to try and support your naive point of view. The point is prohibition is always bad because it is used as a form of social control, the reason that pretty much all drugs are outlawed recreationally is because in the past the unwashed masses have enjoyed them for different reasons and therefore the "state" have implemented laws against these things as a form of social control.
To go along with that they fill the populous full of lies to try and support their position and to try and turn the people against each other and create dissent amongst people and thus creating things like class wars to keep them distracted. If governments truely had the best interests of the populous at heart then they would regulate substances properly and supply people with correct and factual data to allow people to make clear and informed decisions about what they choose to consume instead of running bullshit campaigns like the infamous reefer madness or scaremongering people into thinking they will instantly be addicted or die whilst also pedalling far more harmful and addictive substances alongside.
Regulation also takes away even more dangers to society because people can now purchase properly manufactured substances that have been made within an environment that promotes safety through regulation rather than buying something that has been cut with brick dust or plaster board powder to maximise profits in a non regulated black market.
Regulation also applies to the companies selling the products, although part of the problem with tobacco companies massive influence is the bullshit system that is capitalism but that is another subject entirely.
These are just a few examples, I haven't even touched upon the increased revenue for society as a whole due to taxing these products and the knock on positive effects of that or how proper systems of education and care can help prevent so many issues across the spectrum.
Prohibition under the guise of helping people or protecting kids is always a move to oppress people and is never a positive thing for society as a whole, just look at the bullshit that is this push for age verification under the guise of "protecting the kids" that is going on at the moment. I think you need to take a step back and really assess what is going on behind decisions like this because it is more a move towards "monarchy" or total control of a populous and freedoms ever will be like you seem to think.
I gave you an example of a compromise that works. This is a compromise too.
UK chose it’s government democratically, didn’t they? Hence what it does is the closest approximation to the will of people. I’m speaking for them. We want people to self organise to collectively fight against the oppression and that’s what happened.
I’m glad there are little guys fighting the good fight for the tobacco industry, must be fun.
Not really, a system that employs first past the post and a house of fucking lords that is based on blood lines is it really the closest approximation of the will of the people?
I couldn't care less about the tobacco industry I'm arguing for the peoples right to choose what they do with their own bodies, there is a big difference but cool. Have a good day :)
First past the post is a system that has many faults but also benefits like continuity of policies and less deadlocks. I don’t think it’s a good system but it is democratic and won’t prevent a eventual change that people want, see the currently ongoing change in French politics for example.
I think there are better uses of your freedom than advocating that people should be free to be scammed by big corporations because that doesn’t sound like freedom at all. They’d be more free if they didn’t waste money on a pointless drug. They could even purchase more useful drugs with that money.
Your brain is my drugs. I think I'll pass this time. Mostly because legality is Ledger.
I got addicted to cigarettes at 16 when the age to legally buy tobacco was 18. It's laughably easy to play "hey mister" until someone agrees.
Substances being illegal have rarely been a barrier to people doing it. In fact, the illegality makes kids more likely to try it, and more likely to be exposed to other harmful substances.
Marijuana isn't a gateway drug because it gets you high. It's a gateway drug because you have to buy it from a criminal who will offer you other drugs.
I got addicted to cigarettes at 16 when the age to legally buy tobacco was 18. It's laughably easy to play "hey mister" until someone agrees.
Would you do it if you had to rely on someone else until you die? What happens when you’re 50? You ask your 55 year old buddy to buy it for you?
Vapes are part of this ban
Heck yeah, that’s even better then. Such a pointless drug. Helps with anxiety caused by nicotine withdrawal, which is a scam if you ask me. We don’t slap a warning label on scams like pyramid schemes and such, we just outlaw them.
How exactly is being a highly effective smoking cessation method a scam?
Vaping doesn't help with nicotine withdrawal because the vast majority on the market contain nicotine, although before governments went after open systems people used to step down their nicotine strength to quit vaping.
The reason it's so successful is because it still fills the actual habit of smoking, which is the most addictive part.
Nicotine on its own is less physically addictive than caffeine
I was talking about nicotine in general. I thought this was a ban solely on cigarettes (since it’s easier to implement and control). I’m truly happy that they went with this. History will thank UK for making this step, encouraging others and I can bet my entire bank account on this.
Just saying "my city did it and it was great" doesn't tell anyone anything
Smokers actually save the healthcare system money. Long term geriatric care is significantly more expensive than treating cancer.