Why are people worried about smoking when in 2005, 16,885 people died in alcohol-related auto accidents?

Question

During 2005, 16,885 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths (NHTSA 2006).

Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and nonfatally injure someone every two minutes (NHTSA 2006).

During 2005, 16,885 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths (NHTSA 2006).

Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and nonfatally injure someone every two minutes (NHTSA 2006).

Annually, exposure to secondhand smoke (or environmental tobacco smoke) causes an estimated 3,000 deaths from lung cancer among American adults.(EPA)

3000 vs 16,885 lets see.... let's tax alcohol just as much as cigaretts are being taxed.

Answer 1

It's not an either/or proposition. Smoking is unhealthy, irresponsible drinking is unhealthy and driving while impaired is unhealthy. That being said, it does not necessarily follow that they are the only unhealthy things in this world. Smoke if you will. Just don't force me to do it with you. Also I would prefer it if I didn't have to help pick up the tab for the predictable results of your behavior through higher insurance premiums. But whatever you do, have a good day.

Answer 2

What are you talking about? People are much MORE worried about drunk driving than about smoking. There are strick laws against drunk driving. Only recently have there been smoking bans in public places but individuals are still allowed to smoke.

This dispite the fact that many MORE people die from smoking than from drunk driving. 400,000 Americans die from smoking related illness each year, so it isn't even close.

Answer 3

You're right. Traffic accidents are not the only arena in which alcohol takes its toll. If you factor in heart attacks, stokes, liver and pancreatic diseases, and anything that deals with a lowered immune system, etc., then I think it is pretty clear that alcohol is a bigger social menace than nicotine.

Answer 4

We're working on keeping those fools alive as well, but the fact is, there are 6 billion people alive on this planet that the planet is unable to support. We should be concentrating on letting more people die.

Answer 5

Just because drunk driving is a problem does not make smoking not a problem because it is not as bad. That is why

Answer 6

Both are huge killers and are evils of our society

Answer 7

GREAT QUESTION,,, KUDOS !

cigarettes or marijuana ?

cigs kill,,,
pot doesn't,,,