Smoking and Drinking

[Guest guest]

There is plenty of evidence to prove that passive smoking causes

harm. I don't think there is any doubt about that. I do agree that

drunken driving is dangerous and a big worry, as is the fighting

amongst drunks outside clubs and pubs, and of course, some drunks go

home and beat up their families. I don't think we need to say that

one is worse than the other. I think all smoking is bad for people's

lungs and hearts. Small amounts of drink seem to be perfectly

harmless, but quite a large section of society seems to be unable or

unwilling to drink moderately, so therefore there are problems

associated with alcohol.

 

Jo

 

, " happyyogi2003 " <lv2breathe@a...>

wrote:

>

> I am going to be controversial here...

>

> But I think the anti-smoking crusade is ridiculous and

hyprocritical.

>

> Alcohol causes MUCH MORE suffering in society than someone smoking

> does. Alcohol is the cause of many deaths on the road, family

abuse,

> sickness, spousal abuse. Smoking does not cause this. Smoking may

> cause some bad air around the smokers...but no where near the

> emotional or psycological abuse of alcoholics or deaths due

> to " smoking while driving "

>

> There is an independent coffeehouse near my house. It is frequented

> by many leftist types. The owner told me " when they passed the no-

> smoking rule, 1/2 of my business went south " .

>

> I don't think it's fair for others to demand that business owners

who

> have put their money into their business make it completely smoke-

> free. The customers and her were happier without it...yet people

who

> think they know better have caused her business to go down and her

> smoking customers have one less place to hang out. I think this is

> fascist...totally. It's forcing YOUR good habits onto others

without

> allowing them to do what they want. I agree in PUBLIC places like

> planes and trains, and airports and schools (where people basically

> don't have other choices) should be smoke free...but bars and

> coffeehouses...I say leave it to the owners..they have the right to

> decide and their customers have a right to enjoy smoking in there.

>

> I have a theory why alcohol is not on the radar of the " anti-

smoking "

> types...it's because the elite who go after smoking enjoy their

> alcohol and don't want it taken away. So they go after those who

> smoke, who are usually in the lower economic classes, instead of

> fighting the habit that causes much more harm...alcohol. I really

> think it's a crusade against the lower classes since it's mostly

the

> lower classes who smoke! I think it's unkind. Let them have a

smoke

> if it helps them get through the day. Perhaps if you had days like

> them, you'd understand and leave them alone and not tax them to

death.

>

> Me, if I lived in a world where people stopped killing each other

> because of drunk driving, stopped abuse caused by alcohol, were

> considerate and polite when I take my dogs to the park...I would

not

> care ONE IOTA if they smoked. I'd be happy! Smoking is such a non-

> issue to me compared to all the bigger issues of the world...drunk

> driving, outsourcing, abuse of all kinds, the falling dollar,

> terrorism, gang, crime, government debt, corruption in government,

> injustice, high taxes, making my bills...I honestly do not care if

> others smoke or not. In fact, when I was a waittress....the nicest

> most easy going patrons were smokers and they left bigger tips! If

> someone took that away from me I'd be mad...why should the

government

> have to decide for me whether or not I'll take a job with smokers

> where I'll get bigger tips...NO ONE! That should be my decision,

> period... not some self righteous people who think smoking is all

the

> evil in the world.

>

> And this is all coming from someone who is a total health nut.

>

> Thanks I feel better now!

>

> Kristina