I think you missed my point.  If the purpose of increased taxation on vices like cigarettes is to dissuade people from a particular activity, that goal is missed once the taxation become a profitable venture.  The government becomes reliant on the vice and risks switching into a promotional mode.<p>Raising money to treat smokers is all well and good, but I&#x27;d rather see fewer people smoking.  If a government becomes reliant to the tax revenue it risks becoming as addicted to cigarette use as the people it was once trying to stop smoking.  Such traps are what separates vice from other pleasurable activities.