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Smokers are fuming
Published Thursday, April 9, 2009
The year 2009 hasn’t exactly been the best year for smokers.
Cigarette companies raised prices to offset lost profits in the wake of the largest federal tobacco tax increase, from 39 cents to $1.01 per pack in March.
In Alabama, the state Legislature tried to pass an anti-smoking bill that would have restricted smoking in most public places, including restaurants, bars, businesses and public transportation.
Even though the bill failed, it has to get under smokers’ skin a bit.
Profiting from popular vices is nothing new. I read an article in TIME Magazine that outlined a history of “sin taxes,” as they are called, which have ranged from legalized prostitution to men’s beards. As to whether a beard is a vice, I’ll leave that up to you.
As for the concept of prohibiting smoking in public places, I don’t know that I can agree with that. No, I don’t smoke, and I don’t enjoy breathing secondhand smoke, but I try to be open-minded.
If people choose to smoke, that is their choice. I believe in encouraging people to quit, but no one can make the decision for them. It’s when their habit starts affecting me that I start to have a problem with it.
If I sit in a non-smoking section of a restaurant, I would rather not smell cigarette smoke. Local laws have helped this problem, but smoking is allowed in many places, especially bars.
You would think that most people who go to bars already smoke, but there have to be many who do not. If there is no way to divide an establishment into separate sections, I can certainly see requiring people to smoke outside — in a designated area away from main doorways.
I think a major issue lies within our private homes. Of course, this is left up to families to decide. Anyone who has children in their home should go outside every time they smoke or seriously consider quitting. Telling your kids they shouldn’t smoke and doing the opposite sends the wrong message.
I know my grandfather is 84 and has smoked for most of his life. I am glad to still have him around, but not everyone is that fortunate. You’ve got to ask yourself, how much of a gambler are you?
–Scott Mims is the news editor for The Clanton Advertiser. His column appears each Friday.
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Comments
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I smoked for 30 years. When I found out I had cancer, a rare and incurable cancer, I quit. Something drastic had to happen in my life to get me to stop smoking. I haven't smoked in 5 years and I survived my cancer by the Grace of God. Now I look back and realize I shouldn't have ever started. Nicotine grabs a hold of you and doesn't let go. If I were still smoking, I wouldn't care what bans were in place. If I were at a smoke-free restaurant and it was freezing outside with 40 mph winds, I would go outside, find me a corner and smoke my cigarette, no problem. I see things different now. A lot of smoker's are oblivious to where they smoke and who they smoke around. They don't care what they smell like, or if they smoke around their kids or grandkids, or where they dump their butts. It doesn't matter. Sooner or later, you or someone you care about, will suffer from the affects of smoking, rest assure. Then, it will be too late. Think about it. I'm not going to mention the cost savings, life savings, and personal hygiene benefits from not smoking. You know that. It's up to you.
Posted by JelloJiggles (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They should go after all the drinkers too, because they kill just as many and probably more people. People that drink are obnoxious, commit crimes and do other things and then can't remember what they did. If they did that they would be infringing on alot more people and that would generate more tax money, especially the powerful people, and the rich. i know poor people drink and smoke but it's the cheap stuff. Personally, I voted for Willie Nelson for Pesident!
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on April 10, 2009 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can identify with your history, eagle. The similarity is ironic ...
Posted by jchan (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
watch out eagle1 if debbyrose reads this she will probably explode.
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, she will just light up another cigarette.
Posted by steve42 (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While I realize it is possible for drinkers to emit smells that are as bad or worse than cigarette smoke, I make it a habit not to frequent the kinds of places where they would do that (back alleys, seedy night club parking lots, skid row...). Most social drinkers don't stink.
However, I do go to restaurants and convenience stores. The fact that some of those places allow smoking inside is a constant source of amazement. Most of them now only allow it because the owners themselves smoke and they don't want to inconvenience themselves.
When I am looking for a restaurant in Clanton, Montgomery, or Prattville, I look for the sign and if they allow it, they lose my money. I look for no smoking signs when I am traveling. If the hostess asks me "smoking or non?" I say "non" and walk back to my car.
If I am tricked into buying fuel at a station where I have to deal with the stench inside, that marks the last penny they get from me, because I won't be fooled again.
Posted by nerdovision (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I quit cigarettes but I didn't quit smoking, I read a post here a few weeks back about an alternative to smoking that is much cheaper and I must say that I am quite happy about the switch and I am saving money. Anyway, if anyone is interested I got everything I needed from here; www.invisismoke.com
Posted by steve42 (anonymous) on April 13, 2009 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow... it's a Spam Comment. Would that make it a spamment?
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