Discovery: Albert Heijn Stops Cigarette Sales
In a recent social media post, I discovered that Albert Heijn, a major supermarket chain, stopped selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at the beginning of this year. This surprised me, and I decided to check with the local branch, where it turned out that this was indeed the case. With this step, Albert Heijn is anticipating a new rule that will prohibit supermarkets from selling cigarettes from July 1.
Personal Experience and Regulation Concerns
I think the current fight against tobacco is exaggerated. Smoking may be unhealthy, but I don’t think its complete ban is desirable either. The government is restricting more and more fun and enjoyable things, and I wonder whether we shouldn’t be allowed to decide for ourselves what is good for us.
Nostalgia for a Relaxed Smoking Time
Smoking used to be much more normal. I remember smoking booths in entertainment venues and secretly smoking at school. Those times were relaxed, without strict rules and warnings. Nowadays there is a ‘smoke-free generation’, but I wonder if this is really effective. My generation does not only consist of chain smokers.
New Taxes: More than Just Smoking
Also new this year is a ‘consumption tax’ on soft drinks, which is actually a sugar tax. This seems to be the start of a series of taxes on things that are nice or tasty, but according to the government are bad for us. Proponents of these measures say it’s a good thing that bad behavior is discouraged, but I wonder if we want to live in a strict, unsociable society that is obsessively focused on health.
Conclusion: The Government’s Real Priorities
The problem with these measures is that they do not actually promote our health. People are still getting fatter and exercising less. If the government really wants to improve our health, there should be more attention to prevention, free gym memberships, and more emphasis on personal responsibility. But that’s not happening, suggesting that the government is more concerned with money and control than with our health.