If smoking is so dangerous, why havent they banned it?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_go_co/cigarette_tax;_ylt=AlaxAXt7Oi7tz3rnm_ST6Z2yFz4D

Answer 1

money. it brings in an unbelievable amount of cash money

and plus - just like teenagers get alcohol, people would still find a way to smoke.

Answer 2

To ban it completely would be political suicide. Anyone who supported a bill like this would lose smokers' votes, and all the money from the big tobacco companies. Also, cigarette taxes are a huge source of revenue for the government, and it's all about the money in Washington. So instead they're starting with banning smoking in public places, and seeing what the political fallout is before they take another step.

Answer 3

It's extremely profitable for the tobacco companies so they have powerful lobbyists in Washington that line the pockets of politicians who form the legislation that would ban the sale of cigarettes. The tobacco companies have even funded studies that concluded that smoking saves us as a society money because the premature deaths from smoking keep us from having to spend money on the other illnesses these people would get if they had lived longer.

Answer 4

The tobacco companies have such a stronghold on this economy not to mention the several millions of us addicted to cigarettes. As like any other drug that has been criminalized (including alcohol in the 20's and 30's), it just becomes black market merchandise. Rreally the only winners in this war on nicotine are the big wig tobacco corporations, whom also have ties with certain food companies ie Phillip Morris/Kraft but also pharmeceudical companies as well.

Answer 5

It all has to do with the amount of money that cigarettes bring to the government on taxes. Every time a new item is brought up they add a tax on cigarettes to pay for it.

I read an answer on here that the UN was trying to create a ban world wide. That would cause one of the biggest revolts that you have ever seen.

Prohibition couldn't stop the consumption of alcohol, I doubt a ban on cigarettes would work either.

Just my opinion.

Answer 6

Because it is a major money making industry that is run by big corporate people . This would cause a big financial loss for many in that business and they won't allow that to happen. Not to mention the medical profession will profit on the amount of people it will treat from the direct and second hand exposure that people have with this. It is a big money maker.

Answer 7

i dont know where your from but in the uk its simply because the amount of money that the government makes from ciggerettes is astonishing.
On your average packet of cigarettes around 80% of the price goes to the tax man and the shop keeper makes around 5p profit. If the government was to ban smoking completely they would lose a good source of tax revenue.

Also concidering the amount of people who smoke if a government was to completely ban it i believe they would have a revolution on their hands.

what has happened in the uk is that from today the government has increased the age at which you can legally buy cigarettes from 16 to 18

Answer 8

Because of the huge MONEY it contributes to the coffers of the government, and other people. Besides, it can't be banned just for the reason that it's dangerous. Look at other dangerous things out there - automobiles, bombs, guns, plastics, etc. - which can't be banned because society thinks that the benefits and-or convenience outweigh the danger.

Answer 9

U.S. companies still make a lot of money from exporting tobacco & using foreign tobacco in their brands sold abroad.

If the U.S. were to ban tobacco, it would not only cut a source of tax revenue it would make it more difficult for U.S. companies to do business abroad. It would be a very clear case of hypocrisy.

Tobacco is big business and has the money & power to protect its interests. As long as this industry continues to produce profit & generate taxes, it will be available.

Answer 10

Money, mula, dinero. The big o' $. That is why. Same reason alcohol is still legal. Money talks and it sucks that the world doesnt realize how dangerous it all is and if they did, maybe everyone would stop buying it and it will be forced to be done with. This is wishfull thinking though. Again, it is all about the $.

Answer 11

In an Economics class I took, I asked the same question. Apparently, the United States of America makes an absolute killing on the taxes of cigarettes. For every pack of cigarettes, about 73% of the price is tax. So, in the state of Massachusetts, where a pack of Marlboro's is $5.25/pack, about $3.83 is taxed. Now think of how many packs of cigarettes are bought in a day. The system has done it again.