Annual Tax Collected on Tobacco Product Sales and Whether This Covers Cost of Treating Smoking-related Diseases

Debated in Parliament on 7 Feb 2023.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

For FY2019 to FY2021, the Government collected about $1.3 billion per year on average from tobacco duties.
The costs of smoking include both direct healthcare expenses and indirect costs like productivity losses, which are considered when setting tobacco tax rates.
The primary aim of tobacco taxation is not to cover smoking-related costs but to reduce tobacco consumption and its negative effects through a multi-pronged approach.
The Government regularly reviews tobacco tax rates to ensure they remain effective in discouraging tobacco use.
Tobacco taxes are part of a broader strategy that includes public education, smoking cessation support, and controls on tobacco advertising and sales to minors.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Yip Hon Weng

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) for the last three years, what is the average annual tax collected on tobacco product sales; and (b) whether this amount is able to cover the current average annual cost of treating smoking-related diseases.

Lawrence Wong

Between FY2019 and FY2021, the Government collected about $1.3 billion of tobacco duties per year on average.

The costs of smoking extend beyond the direct healthcare costs of smoking-related illnesses and also include indirect costs such as productivity losses for the economy.

We take these costs into account in the setting of tobacco tax rates. Our aim is not so much to raise sufficient revenue to cover the costs of smoking, but to have an effective system of taxation that will reduce tobacco consumption and its accompanying negative effects. Taxes are also part of a broader multi-pronged approach to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use in Singapore, including through measures like public education, provision of smoking cessation support services, as well as the control of tobacco advertising and sales of cigarettes to minors.

The Government regularly reviews the tobacco tax rate, including reviewing trends in smoking prevalence, to ensure its continued effectiveness in discouraging tobacco consumption.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

For FY2019 to FY2021, the Government collected about $1.3 billion per year on average from tobacco duties.
The costs of smoking include both direct healthcare expenses and indirect costs like productivity losses, which are considered when setting tobacco tax rates.
The primary aim of tobacco taxation is not to cover smoking-related costs but to reduce tobacco consumption and its negative effects through a multi-pronged approach.
The Government regularly reviews tobacco tax rates to ensure they remain effective in discouraging tobacco use.
Tobacco taxes are part of a broader strategy that includes public education, smoking cessation support, and controls on tobacco advertising and sales to minors.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Annual Tax Collected on Tobacco Product Sales and Whether This Covers Cost of Treating Smoking-related Diseases | PAPERCUTS

Annual Tax Collected on Tobacco Product Sales and Whether This Covers Cost of Treating Smoking-related Diseases

Debated in Parliament on 7 Feb 2023.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

For FY2019 to FY2021, the Government collected about $1.3 billion per year on average from tobacco duties.
The costs of smoking include both direct healthcare expenses and indirect costs like productivity losses, which are considered when setting tobacco tax rates.
The primary aim of tobacco taxation is not to cover smoking-related costs but to reduce tobacco consumption and its negative effects through a multi-pronged approach.
The Government regularly reviews tobacco tax rates to ensure they remain effective in discouraging tobacco use.
Tobacco taxes are part of a broader strategy that includes public education, smoking cessation support, and controls on tobacco advertising and sales to minors.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Yip Hon Weng

Lawrence Wong

Between FY2019 and FY2021, the Government collected about $1.3 billion of tobacco duties per year on average.

The costs of smoking extend beyond the direct healthcare costs of smoking-related illnesses and also include indirect costs such as productivity losses for the economy.

The Government regularly reviews the tobacco tax rate, including reviewing trends in smoking prevalence, to ensure its continued effectiveness in discouraging tobacco consumption.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

For FY2019 to FY2021, the Government collected about $1.3 billion per year on average from tobacco duties.
The costs of smoking include both direct healthcare expenses and indirect costs like productivity losses, which are considered when setting tobacco tax rates.
The primary aim of tobacco taxation is not to cover smoking-related costs but to reduce tobacco consumption and its negative effects through a multi-pronged approach.
The Government regularly reviews tobacco tax rates to ensure they remain effective in discouraging tobacco use.
Tobacco taxes are part of a broader strategy that includes public education, smoking cessation support, and controls on tobacco advertising and sales to minors.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Annual Tax Collected on Tobacco Product Sales and Whether This Covers Cost of Treating Smoking-related Diseases

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Yip Hon Weng

Lawrence Wong

Summary

Questions Identified

Annual Tax Collected on Tobacco Product Sales and Whether This Covers Cost of Treating Smoking-related Diseases

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Yip Hon Weng

Lawrence Wong

Summary

Questions Identified