> The official position is that high taxation encorages people go give up smoking and drinking, but as this effect has not been seen in the last 70 years implies that it's probably a false belief.

High prices might encourage people not to *start* smoking, though. Especially kids, who would be less likely to afford high prices. I don't know the research on this, but that's what I always thought was one reason behind it.

As for me, I never tried smoking because I was traumatised by an extremely graphic film they made us watch at school when I was about seven.

Brunnen-"negative reinforcement didn't work very well; I'm still addicted to watching films"G