Why Is Goverment So Hard On Anti-Smoking?

Question

I hate how the goverment feels they have to take away our freedom to choose in what we want to do to ourselves. Why do they feel they need to protect us from ourselves? Smoking is harmful yes but we are responsible to make the choice for what to do with ourselves.

Personally I hate how most bars and restaurants now ban all smoking. Whenever people say no smoking majority they mean cigarettes; but now cigars, herbal cigarettes, and other smoking tools are banned. I used to love lighting cigars in bars but can't do that anymore thanks to the no smoking rule.

Answer 1

I agree with you that government has invaded our lives in much too personal way. As a smoker and an adult I have the right to choose my personal habits. They are making such a big deal out of smoking when there are many things which contribute to the pollution in the air. Since I hear of at least one gunshot death in my community each day, why are they not raising a hue and cry over this? I will tell you why-because they are afraid of the gun lobbyist and the NRA. Our freedoms are being taken away one by one, and it just isn't right! Also, they couldn't justify steadily increasing taxes on cigarettes if they left the smokers alone.

Answer 2

There are a lot of people that claim that second hand smoke
causes health problems of those that are around it and then
the associated health costs. The problem that I see is that
just because a non smoker gets lung cancer or has a
heart attack, they relate that to second hand smoke.
My biggest objection is that long before the ban on smoking
the owner of an establishment could ban smoking, but
he can not own an establishment that allows smoking even
if all of the employees at his place of business are smokers.

It does not make any sense to me that you can ask smokers
not to come in to your place of business, or if you do,
you can't smoke (choice) but you can not have a business
that bans non smokers or if they want to come in accept
the fact that there is smoke (also a choice)

Answer 3

i agree with you i think the government should stay out of it. here in Maryland a statewide smoking ban was passed and the VFW folks were protesting that decision. Why is it ok to go off and fight in a war and risk your life, but then the govt tells you that you can't smoke in your own PRIVATE CLUB with your own kind, fellow veterens.

anyway the reason i hear is to protect the health of employees. bullshit. i was a bartender for 8 years. if you want to protect your health you don't tend bar that is condusive to smoking. i've worked in smoking and nonsmoking restaurants. plenty of bartenders smoke themselves and don't care what their patrons do as long as they tip well.

Answer 4

Money. Governments make a killing on the taxes and the Tobacco industry pays a lot of money to keep peddling it's wares. That's all it comes down too, the almighty dollar and maybe a few lost jobs.

Answer 5

Because the Govt recieves good paybacks from pharma(drug companies) that is why. However, they will continue to take away the things we love to injest and enjoy because it pays money.
However, As the baby boomers begin their inevitable journey into late middle-age and old age, expect more of these studies examining the effect of years passed on overall health. Although the humanity knows that as one grows older ailments increase ultimately becoming so serious that death results. The acolytes of Big Health find this progression hard to take. They see that even though they practice the gospel of self-denial they are still getting older and sicker. It just isn't fair! After decades of eating right and denying themselves the pleasures of the table and tobacco they still will meet their maker just like all their brothers and sisters who, instead of self-flagellating themselves into purity, enjoyed life to the fullest. This is the karma faced by the life-haters who have worked so hard to impose their sterile morality upon the rest of us by majority mob rule!

Answer 6

You can't pass laws banning stupidity. But, as a tax payer, I'm fed up with the high cost of medical care and coverage thanx (largely) inpart to those who insist on putting a loaded gun to their heads, and then later suing the tobacco companies for THEIR having exercised their "freedom" to choose. So, pass laws limiting where they can be stupid.

Answer 7

I am allergic to cigarette smoke, so appreciate the bars and such being smoke free here in California. If smokers would regulate themselves and take into consideration other people when they are smoking there wouldn't be a need for such laws, but they don't.

Answer 8

passing bans is another way to make money. if they feel it is dangerous they should shut down tobacco companies. oh wait they they make money off them and smokers. here where i live the conservatives,mostly church groups backed the ban

Answer 9

Muslims don't approve of it and They are trying to conform,
to appease them.

Answer 10

the gov is against smoking because we the people are mostly against smoking

democracy

it sucks to be on the minority side, but it is what it is and everybody is there for at least a few issues