Is offering Cigarettes to someone a form of murder?

Question

Considering the government are always telling us "SMOKING KILLS".
Isn't offering someone cigarettes a form of euthanasia? Or at least an accesory to manslaughter?

Answer 1

Since most western governments consider people who sell cannabis, ecstasy, etc.. to be partly responsible for the harm such things may cause ,consistency would call for a similar view towards selling ,or giving people cigarettes , especially since the harm is so much better proven.
Most people who offer fags will do so as addicts ,seeking support for their foolish habit, they ,much like the alcoholic or heroin addict ,need a group of fellow addicts to cushion them from the truth of their situation, to collectively pretend that it's really a perfectly reasonable way to live.
In that way offering a ciggie is encouraging ,and supporting someone in harming themselves, their children and others they themselves encourage.
It's a lesser version of scoring a fix or giving a drink to a junkie or alcoholic.

Answer 2

Sure, and the most culpable would be the person who actually gives you the first cigarette. But then again they're disgusting so you need some other influences to justify smoking another one. So blame TV, parents, magazine ads, posters, etc.

People want to say "no" because they think the individual human subject is uninfluenced, can make rational decisions on his own. But if that whole framework is bogus-- which can be demonstrated-- then influence is the master of control.

Once addicted the cigarette habit is very hard to give up. Smoking just one pack does great harm to one's body. All the false influences should be accountable-- and moreover the productive forces that bring it about.

This IS just the same for guns. Though there is no "addiction" the negative corollary is unjustifyable uses of violence, which is basically every case that a gun is designed to handle.

The cigarette's ideology wasn't to kill, as with the gun, but to be pleasurable-- and times have changed. It seems like it is a form of social domination of the weak-minded. Just as AIDS was thought to be a gay man's disease, hence no desire to find treatment, the smoking habit may have the lobby to continue its existence based on this pitiful desire to exterminate portions of the population.

Of course proving cigarettes directly cause death is not available in a juridical sense. It takes years to contract the diseases that end in untimeliness. So is it murder technically? Nah. But that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be challenged.

If someone deliberately and publicly blew smoke in my face I bet I could bring charges of Assault.

Weapons of mass destruction---
who knew they were in the pharmacy?
or the drive-thru window at McDonalds?

We've been looking in the wrong places.

Answer 3

No - the definition of Murder is killing someone with the intention of killing them or causing them grievous bodily harm. If someone gives another person a cigarette it is with niether of these two forms of intention and therefore does not constitute the crime of murder. The case would be different when applied to cigaretted manufacturers; at the very least these companies commit Manslaughter every day. But it could be argued that they should be prosecuted for Murder. The evidence is irrefeagable that cigarrette smoking causes Cancer and hence death. Dispite this the cigarette companies knowingly provide cigarettes to people knowing that it will kill them. One can intend something without desiring it. So it can be said that when the cigarette companies provide cigarettes to people they may not desire their death but they cannot say that they do not intend it.

Answer 4

No. Accepting cigarettes from you is voluntary. And not all smokers die from smoking (the government says "Smoking Kills," but smoking doesn't kill everyone).

You also need to consider whether you're offering cigarettes to a smoker or non-smoker, how long the person smokes, and - within that time frame - how many of the smoked cigarettes were provided by you.

Philosophically, yes, you may be contributing to illness or death. Legally, there would doubtfully be any case against you.

Answer 5

No, it isn't. Smoking is a choice that people make and so just offering someone a cigarette does not ultimately mean you will kill them. It's like allowing someone to go outside without sunscreen even though they may develope cancer sometime down the road. Smoking does lead to death through carcinogens, but you can't chalk it up to Murder.

Answer 6

If they consent, actually smoke, and grow addicted in a 30 year long habit that is impossible to kick, then it still isn't. I mean, the person who offered it to them could be considered a murderer but it is the fault of the person a cigarette was offered to.

Answer 7

Good thought. But the government is making money off smokers so they might not consider it. Now if you can figure out a way for the government to make some money off it, then it will become manslaughter.

Answer 8

Wow... I've been murdered endless times and worse.. I am a murderer endless times to boot!

For heavens sake, is opening a door a crime if the person trips across the threshold and hits their head and dies... just how far do you want to take this hypothetical question? Since I could be here all night!

Answer 9

I think it could be classed as manslaughter.

I packed it in April this year, if you offered me one I would be very happy to refuse it.

Just think about the money I have saved, like 20 pence just answering this question without a ciggie hanging from my mouth.

Answer 10

Having recently given up smoking I have been asking myself a similar question, no other legal substance that guarantees harm only.

Alcohol, most people don't become addicted and a glass of red wine is good for you

Gambling, most just enjoy a small bet every now and again.

coffee, doesn't kill in the small doeses most people enjoy

So what has tobacco got going for it?????????????????????