Maybe sin tax is not really all that terrible
Let's just be honest when it comes to the national budget -- we don't really care how the government spends the money, all that is important is how it will impact on our pockets.
And sadly, this year, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has ensured that the ordinary man on the street will be even more burdened by financial woes.
This follows the announcement that personal tax for many (who earn more than R15 000 a month) will increase, while electricity and fuel prices will undergo a price hike.
Small businesses will enjoy a small reprieve and there are slight increases for pensioner and social grants.
Nhlanhla outlined the nation’s predicament, saying that, even after lowering SA’s expenditure ceiling, there is still a structural gap between revenue requirements and projected tax proceeds.
Naturally, to bridge this gap requires additional revenue, and this time the target has been the ordinary taxpayer, who suffers because the government has been unable to properly govern this country.
So thank you, Finance Minister, for introducing another harsh year of battling the odds, while we keep enjoying poor service delivery, failing performances from Eskom and the prospect that e-tolls are here to stay.
And yes, as with each year, sin tax has increased, meaning one has to pay more for alcohol and tobacco products. The beer enjoyed during a Super 15 rugby match might just taste slightly more bitter over the coming months.
But, before we crucify our government for sin tax, take into consideration two recent studies done in Britain, where the use of tobacco and even the consumption of alcohol are actually discouraged (ergo, no need to pay sin tax).
Based on recent research by Scientific Reports, alcohol is significantly more dangerous than a range of illegal substances much more heavily regulated and policed.
Yes, folks, it is even more dangerous than marijuana — and the strange thing is that is it legal and easily accessible, seven days a week!
Let me explain how this study works. The authors of the study assessed the “comparative risk” of death that accompanies consuming everything, from weed to meth and heroin – and found that marijuana is even safer, relative to those harder drugs, than they previously believed.
Researchers drew these conclusions based on something called “margin of exposure”, which measures the likelihood of an average user accidentally ingesting a toxic dose. The lower the ratio, the smaller the margin for error, and the easier it is to consume a harmful dose.
According to the study, alcohol, followed by heroin, are among the deadliest substances when taking into consideration “margin of exposure,”, with cocaine and nicotine in third and fourth places, respectively.
Interesting. So one learns something new every day! How does that beer taste now?
Here is another shock.
According to another British survey, smokers have a 70 per cent increased risk of anxiety and depression when compared with non-smokers, despite the commonly held perception that lighting up is a stress reliever.
The survey found that levels of anxiety and depression reported by long-term ex-smokers were indistinguishable from people who have never smoked and much lower than current smokers.
This suggests that quitting smoking could help people combat anxiety and depression and improve mental health.
I know, it all sounds depressing, just like the national budget and the State of the Nation Address, but let us take heart that, for now, we don’t have to deal with a global crisis like ISIS knocking on our door.
