Yes they do and some may say they pay their way through the taxation placed on those items. Whereas other drug addictions do not.

Therein lies the difference between socially acceptable drugs and illegal substances.

What I read in the newspapers and see on TV. I don't make a habit of sitting in the public gallery.

Are you going to defend MPs in light of recent (and not so recent) events?

How much of the money raised through taxation of these products goes to the NHS?

What percentage of the bill for treatment of smoking and alcohol related illness and injury does this cover?

Serious question because I don't know the answers but I assume you saying that they are paying their way you know the figures!

To be honest I doubt they are and I bet actual figures would never be available. I was just making the point, not that I would agree with it.

Personally I think both alcohol and cigarettes should be more tightly controlled.

Hear hear. I would add to that elective cosmetic surgery, vasectomies etc ect.

One thing's for certain, go into any A & E on a Friday/Saturday night and there are far more alcohol related incidents than drug related...

The fact is the UK's present drug policy isn't working....Though legalising isn't something I'd fully condone, it can't be any worse than the present situation.

I agree...Add hearing aids and help for the visually impaired...those money wasters should just be glad they are alive...

That is not my point and you know it!

The problem is sometimes things like cosmetic surgery can help with much deeper routed problems that someone may have so has to be taken on a case by case basis imo.

I had cosmetic surgery aged 10 (ears pinned back) and the aesthetic benefits of it were only one of the reasons I decided to have it done - the effect that the "elephant ears" was having on me as a person was a much bigger reason for it. As a child I had no confidence at all due to it and as I was getting older and more and more aware of the "problem" and other children (and adults) were also becoming aware and bullying due to it and the decision to have them pinned back really did have a massive very positive impact upon my whole life at the time.

And then of course there are also cases where cosmetic surgery is required for medical reasons (ie breast reductions)

I don't agree with "I want bigger breasts" type surgery on the NHS (but that rarely happens anyway) but if there is a medical (physical or mental) reason for it then I don't see a problem with it.

Hang on... why stop vasectomies on the NHS; surely stopping people from having children they don't really want and would be burden on the tax payer would surely make sense?

The point is, like all true right wingers, if something doesn't fit into your 'ideal' then it can go and clear off.

Just because something doesn't fit into the category of what you consider a true illness, doesn't mean it doesn't need help....We really have come full circle here, back to the true BNP notion, and that is if something doesn't fit their own perceived criteria then it will be persecuted...

Birth control medication is currently free on the NHS.

Not suitable for everyone though, and as a long term solution then a vasectomy or sterilisation are going to be much more effective methods.

i had it done too 'bat ears' is the correct term.
i had it done when i was 17 on the NHS at Leigh Infirmary , improved my confidence 200% i even started 'getting some'.

I know, but my nickname at school became dumbo so "elephant ears" sort of stuck

I am so glad I had it done, and had it done when I was relatively young - certainly one of the better decisions I have made!