Looks like it's time to quit smoking! Now with super graphic ad!

[TwiceOver]

I still fail to understand how some people claim that "they are different" or that "it affects people differently".

An incredibly addictive and dangerous substance nearly always has the same effect. It damages health, and causes addiction. It is a burden on the taxpayer and a risk to public health. I don't see why we even allow it to be sold and manufactured anymore.

Ummm... Because the tobacco industry has a mountain of money to lobby (read: bribe) the politicians.

 

[preslove]

I still fail to understand how some people claim that "they are different" or that "it affects people differently".

An incredibly addictive and dangerous substance nearly always has the same effect. It damages health, and causes addiction. It is a burden on the taxpayer and a risk to public health. I don't see why we even allow it to be sold and manufactured anymore.

Outright bans on addictive psychoactive have horrendous public policy consequences. If we used the approach currently used for cigarettes on hard drugs, fewer people would be doing hard drugs, we would spend less $, and Mexico wouldn't be turning into a failed state.

Prohibition is the worst domestic public policy mistake the US has ever made.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Outright bans on addictive psychoactive have horrendous public policy consequences. If we used the approach currently used for cigarettes on hard drugs, fewer people would be doing hard drugs, we would spend less $, and Mexico wouldn't be turning into a failed state.

Prohibition is the worst domestic public policy mistake the US has ever made.

:thumbsup: QFT. As well, if hard drugs were legal, their chemical content would be regulated, and we could spend resources on treating addicts rather than incarcerating them. It helps more people and it's considerably cheaper.

 

[tcsenter]

It does reduce smoking rates. Combined with other measures, it has helped convince people to reduce their use or quit entirely.

To a point, after which it becomes a black market thing that attracts organized crime and gangs to the business. Nobody knows where that point will be, so government just keeps tightening the noose until it reaches that point, and then they justify the crime to have a 'war against' something and spend tens of billions more than the costs of just backing off.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I still fail to understand how some people claim that "they are different" or that "it affects people differently".

An incredibly addictive and dangerous substance nearly always has the same effect. It damages health, and causes addiction. It is a burden on the taxpayer and a risk to public health. I don't see why we even allow it to be sold and manufactured anymore.

Because nicotine doesn't affect everyone the same way. Some people won't become addicted to the physiological effects of nicotine. Lots of people use tobacco products for lots of different reasons. Just like everyone who drinks alcohol isn't an alcoholic.

Because you chose to drink the kool-aid with the anti-smoking propaganda doesn't mean us rational minded folks have to.

 

[bobdole369]

Because nicotine doesn't affect everyone the same way. Some people won't become addicted to the physiological effects of nicotine. Lots of people use tobacco products for lots of different reasons. Just like everyone who drinks alcohol isn't an alcoholic.

This is loaded with fun.

Alcohol and nicotine aren't in the same league. Its akin to comparing intravenous heroin use to smoking pot.

A vast majority of the world uses tobacco in its most addictive format. SOme folks do smoke pipes and cigars and the like, but look at 90% or whatever of China. They are completely addicted. A small portion of folks might smoke a cigarette or 3 while drinking, but I doubt a "lot" of people do that.

Alcoholism is not about physical addiction. Tobacco is a dangerous and addictive drug, while alcohol just isn't.

 

[Train]

...Tobacco is a dangerous and addictive drug, while alcohol just isn't.

ORLY? How many people die each year from Smoking Drivers?

If you can even find a statistic, compare that to Drunken Driving fatalities and get back to us.

 

[Platypus]

This is loaded with fun.

Alcohol and nicotine aren't in the same league. Its akin to comparing intravenous heroin use to smoking pot.

A vast majority of the world uses tobacco in its most addictive format. SOme folks do smoke pipes and cigars and the like, but look at 90% or whatever of China. They are completely addicted. A small portion of folks might smoke a cigarette or 3 while drinking, but I doubt a "lot" of people do that.

Alcoholism is not about physical addiction. Tobacco is a dangerous and addictive drug, while alcohol just isn't.

Yeah, it certainly is.

 

[surfsatwerk]

This is loaded with fun.

Alcohol and nicotine aren't in the same league. Its akin to comparing intravenous heroin use to smoking pot.

A vast majority of the world uses tobacco in its most addictive format. SOme folks do smoke pipes and cigars and the like, but look at 90% or whatever of China. They are completely addicted. A small portion of folks might smoke a cigarette or 3 while drinking, but I doubt a "lot" of people do that.

Alcoholism is not about physical addiction. Tobacco is a dangerous and addictive drug, while alcohol just isn't.

Please quit posting this nonsense before someone dumb enough to believe it comes into the thread.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

 

[tcsenter]

Please quit posting this nonsense before someone dumb enough to believe it comes into the thread.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

Dependence and addiction are not synonyms.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Please quit posting this nonsense before someone dumb enough to believe it comes into the thread.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

Unlike the withdrawal syndrome associated with opiate dependence, DT (and alcohol withdrawal in general) can be fatal.

:hmm:...what bobdole fails to recognize is that all of these drugs are different.

While opiates (heroin, cocaine, etc.) can have devastating effects, it is possible to quit without medical intervention. It's also possible, though difficult, to quit tobacco use without medical assistance.

Conversely, it is dangerous to attempt cold turkey withdrawal from alcohol.

Again, though, all this is really an aside to the actual topic at hand.

 

[tk149]

Government...taking away your freedom of choice since...well, since governments first were created.

Is there a country left on this planet that doesn't suck?

 

[QueBert]

This is loaded with fun.

Alcohol and nicotine aren't in the same league. Its akin to comparing intravenous heroin use to smoking pot.

A vast majority of the world uses tobacco in its most addictive format. SOme folks do smoke pipes and cigars and the like, but look at 90% or whatever of China. They are completely addicted. A small portion of folks might smoke a cigarette or 3 while drinking, but I doubt a "lot" of people do that.

Alcoholism is not about physical addiction. Tobacco is a dangerous and addictive drug, while alcohol just isn't.

I have a neighbor who's hands shake so bad when he's sober that he can't drive a fucking car. You're going to tell me that's not physical? On the flip side I've never seen a smoker who had signs anywhere close to as visible as my neighbors from booze. You are high to think such nonsense.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

"The shakes" aren't from physical addiction really though, it's an after effect of alcohol leaving the body. I would say alcohol is more of a phsycological addiction.

On a side note, they tried imposing a heavy tax on alcohol, it just didn't fly here. Then again a 6 pack of beer still costs $15, and a litre of Absolut will run you $40.

 

[Praxis1452]

This could eliminated if you could opt out of a public healthcare system. As soon as public healthcare is implemented, because the general public is responsible for your healthcare, they are, in part, responsible for your life. The justification for this tax increase only reflects this. And this justification will not just be used for tobacco but can be extended almost every part of our lives.

I shudder to think of what will be justified under the public good once public healthcare arrives in the states, which it most likely will at some point in the future.

Currently at my university they are trying to institute a campus wide smoking ban affecting thousands of students to promote a "culture of health". No, not because smoking is bad, rather it's the culture that matters. This was pretty much there argument. Here, they don't even try to justify it using public healthcare, and it's still in the process of being implemented.