Tobacco Permits: an idea whose time has come

Great article on BBC last month:
"Smokers could be forced to pay £10 for a permit to buy tobacco if a government health advisory body gets its way."

This is the best idea to come out of government that I can remember. It also happens to be a scheme I have been thinking about for years. Here is how it should be done:

Everyone who wants a permit must specify how much tobacco he shall be permitted to buy - a carton of cigarettes a week, or whatever. Want to cut down? Reduce the quota on your permit. Cancel your permit if you want to quit.

All cigarettes or other tobacco products are marked with a bar code or similar tag and sold only in government stores. A national computer system keeps track of who buys what cigarettes, how many, when and where. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to see that his cigarettes do not end up in the hands of anyone else. With a few tweaks, the National Lottery computer system can be adapted to keep track of tobacco permits and sales - we HAVE this technical capability already up and running.

No exemptions for First Nations. Status Indians should be given a cash allowance in lieu of tax free tobacco. Current government policy promotes smuggling and other forms of criminality as well as encouraging Native people to damage their health.