In the US, the taxes collected from the sale of tobacco products and liquor are in the high millions. Even though the sale of tobacco and liquor is prohibited to those under the age of 21 (I think), they will never stop the sale to others. Too much money collected from it.
Sir Walter Raleigh is famously credited with introducing and popularising tobacco in England around 1586, bringing it from the Roanoke colony, nowa days, North Carolina. While he did not discover the plant, he made smoking fashionable among the Elizabethan court, largely establishing its use in British society,
In the early days of its introduction to Europe and widespread use, tobacco was considered to have significant health benefits and was widely regarded as a panacea or: cure-all. From the late 16th century through to the 17th century, physicians and herbalists often prescribed tobacco for a vast range of conditions, and it was commonly called the holy herb or God's remedy.
Including social care and productivity losses, the total cost of smoking in England has been estimated at £21.8 billion in recent reports (2024), rising to over £43 billion when broader societal impacts are included.
Cost of Social Care: In addition to health service costs, smoking costs local authorities around £1.2 billion for social care in England.
Hospital Admissions: Smoking-related illnesses cause roughly 500,000 hospital admissions in England each year.
GP Appointments: Smoking accounts for over 100 GP appointments every hour. (In the UK a doctor is referred to as a General Practioner or GP)
Smoking During Pregnancy: Treating smoking-related issues in mothers and babies costs the NHS between £20 million and £87.5 million annually.
Economic Impact: The cost to the public finances (£16.5bn in 2024) is more than double the £6.8bn raised in tobacco tax revenue.
