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A challenge; explain why tobacco sales aren't banned.
Topic Started: Oct 29 2008, 10:34 PM (90 Views)
somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
The multinational tobacco companies have known for many decades that the use , any use of in fact , of tobacco products often leads to the customer's developing terrible deceases and often leads to death, yet they are still permitted to market their vile products to the young, the vulnerable, the impressionable and those who refuse to, or will not, or can not stop, their addiction and use.

Why is this so ?
Edited by somerled, Oct 29 2008, 10:36 PM.
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Swidden
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
We tried prohibition of alcohol here in the 1920's, that didn't work. Something that has been legal for so long would be very hard to turn around and criminalize its production now (criminalize its use too?).

There are any number of financial reasons at this point starting with the farmers of tobacco that would keep it going. It's use despite the awareness of its harmful side effects is still widespread in many places around the world.

For many Native American tribes tobacco has a long held cultural/religious significance.
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whitestar
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Captain
somerled
Oct 29 2008, 10:34 PM
Why is this so ?
Simple question, simple answer... TAX
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ds9074
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Admiral
I'm tempted to say that now we have a ban on smoking in public places there is no need to ban tobacco completely. Afterall tobacco smoking does not normally result in people becoming dangerous, violent etc. - in the way that excess alcohol and illegal drugs can do - and so does not normally result in harm to society beyond second hand smoke. If people want to damage their health by smoking that is their responsibility. The warnings are there on the packaging and the tax that they pay offsets their increased need for health services.

I am tempted to say that but my one big concern is for the children of smokers. I am not happy that people are exposing their children daily to harmful substances. In a way it is abuse. But what can you do? Prohibition is likely to be ineffective and result in illegal sales which could be of a lower quality and therefore more harmful. And do not even think about taking the children into care - that would cause the children far more harm and distress in the majority of cases.

You could possibly remove or reduce child benefits to parents who smoke. The trouble with that is that increasing the tax on tobacco products has possibly helped reduced but not eliminated smoking. It may well be that there is a hardcore of smokers highly resistant to financial incentives to stop. You might just end up impoverishing children of smokers so doing them a further disservice. You also then open two cans of worms; the need for government surveillance and government interference (how long before it was extended to parents not giving children their 5 a day fruit and veg, not getting them to exercise etc. etc.)
Edited by ds9074, Oct 30 2008, 06:03 AM.
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