ways of fighting cigarette addiction (poll)

[Hound_Of_Culann]

What measures could the government take in order to limit cigarette addiction among its citizens, and how far can the government go without restricting people's freedom too much? A few propositions:

Proposition 1: Make cigarette smoking at the workplace and social gatherings legal and let cigarettes 'naturally' fall out of use as changes in society take place and public opinion changes. Cigarettes are falling into disfavour anyway and society doesn't need further government restrictions in order to make cigarettes fall into disuse.

Proposition 2: 'Generic cigarettes': all commercial cigarette brands (Camel, Lucky Strikes, Marlboro,...) are no longer allowed to be imported/manufactured and are all replaced by a single government-manufactured 'generic' brand. These generic cigarette packs will have a plain white colour with instructions of use and the usual health warnings in small black print on the back. They are available at every pharmacist for an extremely cheap price (around €0,20 or so) and are meant to help addicts cope with their addiction much like methadone. They will come in two flavours: regular and menthol. The filter will be free of unnecessary chemicals. This no-nonsense measure is meant to discourage people from thinking smoking is 'okay' while still providing making it easy for addicts to get their cigs.

Proposition 3: Gradually raise taxes on cigarettes and display bigger warning labels on the packets, in order to stop new people from joining the smokers' ranks while still providing a degree of free choice to the people who still choose to smoke. This is what most governments around the world seem to be doing at the moment.

Proposition 4: completely ban smoking and limit nicotine consumption to chewing gum and nictorine patches. Anyone still caught smoking gets his cigarettes taken away and is issued a fine... George Orwell woul turn around in his grave.

[RZZZA]

5: government's job is to uphold the constitution and protect our rights as citizens, not to dictate what is good or bad for us, or what is good or bad to put into our bodies.

[Yorkshireman]

I don't think you could completely ban it, if you did the illegal cig trade would make drug smuggling look like a cottage industry.

[Francebunkerer]

My first idea is: (stereotypical German accent) Vif ze HEAT!


If this does not work I'd prohibit it in public buildings, pubs and the like. Let the smokers poison themselves in private if they choose to.

[Oldgamer]

5: government's job is to uphold the constitution and protect our rights as citizens, not to dictate what is good or bad for us, or what is good or bad to put into our bodies.

Rzzza, we have complete agreement ... at least, on the issue of tobacco!

[HorseArcher]

5: government's job is to uphold the constitution and protect our rights as citizens, not to dictate what is good or bad for us, or what is good or bad to put into our bodies.

This is why - and i can honestly tell I never smoked- marijuana should be legal. The amount of people locked up for possession is only another way for our tax dollars to get wasted on keeping the inmates fed and well tucked in at night, and it would completely undermine the drug cartels since the prices would fall and all the connected crimes with marijuana would dramatically drop.

All they need to do is make laws, just like with alcohol, such as - cannot drive stoned, cannot sell it to underage kids etc etc. The rest should be dealt on individual level, such as workplaces and public places such as pubs and clubs making their own rules, this is why I don't agree with the smoke-ban law neither, it should not be government regulated at all.

[Senno]

Here here, Rzzza, here here.

I don't smoke, but I like my steaks. Please don't take em away (before I get to old and cholestorol filled to eat em anyway).

[RZZZA]

and instead of cops chasing teenagers for puffing a bit of marijuana theyll be busy with the very important task of hunting down and destroying all cigarettes

a ban on all cigarettes would make the prohibition of alcohol look easy

[RZZZA]

a privately owned pub is private...

[finneys13]

A pub is a Public House, a place of business. Keep smoking out of indoor places of work, people can smoke outside so not endangering others or at home.

[RZZZA]

I'm not arguing that a pub is not an enclosed space, i'm saying pubs arent government owned or public property, they're privately owned establishments, small businesses.


and imo, if a pub owner wants to allow smoking in his pub he should be able to.

[Erik]

I'm not arguing that a pub is not an enclosed space, i'm saying pubs arent government owned or public property, they're privately owned establishments, small businesses.

Exactly.
And smoking is already banned in most businesses, small or large.
Why should a pub be treated differently from a factory or office? - they are all workplaces.

Anyways, I don't think my (or any other) government should fight cigarette addiction, let the smokers kill themselves for all I care.
The only thing they should fight for is my right to fresh air.

[Senno]

Well, I don't know where you are, but here, Freedom of Association is treasured. And that right includes the Freedom NOT to Associate.

That means I can form a club and exclude anyone I want for any reason at all. Charge dues, make rules, wear funny hats, dance around fires, howl at the moon, all in private.

Or just plot to take over the world behind closed doors.

[RZZZA]

yeah, like the He-Man Woman Haters Club

[Senno]

Isn't that at Augusta? Where they hold the Masters?

Personally, I like women in my clubs. Only belonged to one, a tennis club. No women = no fun.

[RZZZA]

[Senno]

haha, havent seen that show in years.

Rather tragic life stories of a lot of those kids, though. Child stardom and all that.

Oh yeah, on topic: Consult your doctor to break cigarette addiction. Their are new developments all the time. Their advice might be helpful.

[RZZZA]

Consult your doctor to break cigarette addiction. Their are new developments all the time. Their advice might be helpful.

yeah if you want to take some prescription drug whose side affects include explosive diarrhea and split personality disorder, go ahead.

[Senno]

yeah if you want to take some prescription drug whose side affects include explosive diarrhea and split personality disorder, go ahead.

Uh-huh. After I said someone might find it useful to see a doctor, you said the above. That a doctor might have different advice seems a bridge to far for you.

Then, a bit further down, you want medical care for people dying from smoking.

Why not a little preventative medicine?

You see no inconsistency in only wanting some medical advice and treatment after the fact?

I characterize the response as: "uh-oh, someone to the right of me agrees, can't hold back, must attack. /Bite"

Thus I am bitten, not literally of course.

@ Oldgamer, the left doesn't agree with me either. But that's in another post.

[Shaun]

I like the way the UK government has gone about it. Raising taxes on fags and banning them from being smoked in the workplace and in pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafe's etc. is certainly decreasing smoking whilst not infringing on our freedoms. Pub profits have even went up!