Will cigarettes finally become illegal?
410471
in response to another person's answer, if cigarettes were made illegal, it would save countless peoples' health and lives. it would save hospitals thousands of patients with cigarette-induced cancer. \ni dont think that is a loss of money. it would only save lives and money.\nbesides, cigarette industry deserves to crash. i would love to see that day. \nall those sleaseballs selling death deserve to be jobless. not teachers and medics and firefighters.\nthose of you who support cigarette legality are losers.
846936
Think of it this way -- the cost to government in terms of smoking-related disease is enormous. The only way the cost would increase is if tobacco were made illegal. Organized crime would take over distribution, DEA and other law enforcement agencies would become involved, prisons would need to be built to incarcerate the tobacco dealer and user... and on and on. Let's stop controlling the non-violent behavior of others. Legalize drugs and abolish prescription drug laws.
983797
The government has created a number of propositions that it believes will curb smoking among teens. Some of these measures include prohibiting the sale of cigarette packs containing less than 19 cigarettes, and punishing vendors who sell cigarettes to teenagers under the age of 16 (which is the legal age to purchase cigarettes in France). These propositions will tentatively take effect on November 3, following cigarette tax hikes implemented by the French government since January. The extra taxes caused cigarette sales to decline by 7.7 percent in the first half of this year.
148651
One of many theories about the reasons behind such a move is that due to the increased taxation of cigarettes, many UK smokers have been turning to illegally imported cigarettes, which have actually reduced the amount of money the government recieve from the increased taxation on tobacco, and that by banning smoking in public houses, the availability of imported cigarettes and tobacco will be reduced; as much of the trade in these goods is done within pubs (but this is just a theory).\n\nThe alternate revenue that the government will recieve is already in effect, if you look at the statistics you will find that taxation on purchased goods, petrol and especially coucil tax have increased a staggering amount, while the weekly earning and benifits have remained the same.\nIt is doubtless that once the effects of lessened tobacco sales have reached the treasury, the poll tax will be extremely high, petrol will be as expensive as gold and alcohol and spirits will be taxed through the roof.\n\nI personally decided to quit a couple of weeks ago, just before this decision came in - but I still disagree completely with the governments infringement on civil liberties.\n\nSmoking is legal - cigarettes are legal, therefore it should not be a governmental decision on which public houses should and should not allow smoking. These matters should be left to the discretion of the pub landlord or the brewery. If a landlord chose to allow smoking in his bar, non-smokers would be free to seek out alternative pubs and clubs that would cater to non-smokers.\nThat's what freedom of choice is all about.
622510
Making it illegal will make the dealers rich. We should educate the public more effectively on the adverse effects of tobacco use.
875837
Personally I can't wait.  I spent fifty odd years smoking, and can now understand how my kids must have suffered in the back of the car.  I cannot understand how a whole family sitting on the next table too me would all light up as soon as they had finished eating, Bloody ignorant lot, not bothering about us or their youngster in the pushchair.  We have overcome that one now, we always go in after we know they will have gone. Poor child has got it all the time though.           I know ex smokers are the biggest moaners, but I can also see why,  I wouldn't smoke in a restaurant or cafe.      I gave up after getting up to answer the phone, the answerphone cut in before I made it. My mate thought I had been running, but I had only just got off the couch.When I heard the recording, I sounded like an asthmatic elephant. I gave up ( for the 4th time) the end of August '88 and not stopped moaning since.   \nI gave up the bottle around the same time,     I went to pay for some materials and my hand was shaking so much I couldn't sign a cheque. I made the excuse I had almost knocked someone over.  \n\n                 I'm so good, I start church soon!!!!!!!!\n\nDoubt it will stop many smoking, and this government know it.
863979
no they won't legalize it. but who really cares what big brother thinks.                puff               puff              pass
1096946
way too far! businesses are going to suffer from these foolish laws. I say to people that don't smoke, just stay away from us and don't breath it. We don't blow the crap on them or anyhting.\nOh yeh, what about drinking in public, is that alright to have your child exposed to useless drunks, our governement is a bunch of a**wipes!
38116
If you are in the US, don't bother opening a tobacco store.  We are going to ban smoking across the country.  Its taking a little longer than first thought, but should be done in the next five years.
703917
Of course. It already is in many places.\n\nWon't be long before it's legal everywhere here in Canada.
162114
never, theres too much money to be made off of illegality. it cannot be regulated therefore it cant be taxed. alcohol is difficult to mass produce discretely so it had to be legalized in order to tax it.
712218
A long time. It will never really go away completely, but at least you won't be getting worse. I grew up in a family of smokers and now not a single person in my family smokes, its one of the best decisions you can make.
363978
cigarettes are quite simply a lethal drug, the USA exports them knowing that they will kill people.\n\nChina should stop the imports, but then the USA would impose trade sanctions (super 301)\n\nTo summarize, the USA forces this, knowing it will kill people, and only benefit tobacco corporations. sound familiar?
73736
Published in the UK last week was a paper stating that if smoking was banned in pubs, then smokers would light up @ home more, endagering their family & children more. This was one reason put forward why smoking as yet to be banned their.\nMaybe not the best reason, but one the British Government counted as valid.
39390
Cigarettes since the sixties have had warnings on the side.  Smokers have known the risks since then.  So No
1101700
The shot to stop smoking is still in the research phase.  It is several years away from being approved for use.\n\nHope this helps!
345818
I think that it is indeed, out of control.  Recently some cities in Minnesota have begun enforcing smoking bans.  There are many businesses, bars/restaurants specifically, that are losing business now.  If I owned a business that was affected by such a law I would be outraged.  And there are many that are just ignoring the law, and paying the small fee to allow patrons to smoke.  They are making more money from these smoking patrons than they are losing by paying a fine. Last I checked cigarettes are still legal to buy and own.  I would have a serious problem with BIG BROTHER (and all of these lobbyists) telling me how to run my business.\n\nAnd by the way I am not, and have never been a smoker.