Look, this isnt a condemnation of casual drinkers who exercise wisdom and safe behavior. This is a conversation about exploring why or how the public perceives the radical difference in treatment of tobacco users versus alcohol users. All rational perspective points to how frighteningly destructive alcohol abusers are. What does under the influence really mean? Does it mean someone lighting up a cigarette is five times more likely to cause an auto accident? Is a pack a day smoker more likely to go home and beat on their children because their serotonin levels dropped and they hate their life? Get real.
Herein lays another tremendous societal double standard; the mighty push to legalize marijuana. I claim no expertise in understanding the effects of second hand smoke, which happens to be one of the most over-hyped rhetorical abuses laid against smokers. Does health related issues arrive from years of second hand smoke, yes. However, so does second hand alcohol abuse, only its much more visible and costly. I suppose all smoke isnt created equal. If it is marijuana smoke, then all of a sudden it is acceptable for baby Julie to absorb; after all its a natural inhalant! In another hub, I already said my peace about marijuana, so I am not beating that drum; I am only trying to understand how trial lawyers line up to strike down one form of abuse, while working to promote another form of abuse.
Logically I know several readers will say follow the money. In the end, its always the money. In the nineteen 50s and 60s when the tobacco industry was in their hay day, they had a mighty powerful lobby, but much like the NRA, socialist groupsI mean slant groups work to demoralize and denigrate product supporters and those who like to protect individual rights. The pure hatred for smoking seams to be mostly an American topic. If we look at Eastern countries, they do not harbor such an incipient hatred for Marlboro and Camel users. How about a list of excuses to hate smokers and ignore alcoholics;
Tobacco companies target children with their advertising (yeah, and alcohol companies never cater to young men)
Tobacco use is a huge contributor to the sky rocketing costs of healthcare (I am sure it contributes, but how does alcohol related vehicular manslaughter stack up in human cost, insurance, auto and health?).
Tobacco use is harming the environment. (Remember the Captain of the Exxon Valdez Joseph Hazelwood who was under the influence of alcohol? That was a lot of damage by one inebriated guy!)
Tobacco use is a disgusting habit. (Waking up face down in a pile of your own vomit is glamorous?)
Smoking in a restaurant ruins my meal. (Sure it is annoying, but no more than dudes who develop larger beer muscles with each sip of Jack Daniels.)
Smoking is a turn off. (I agree, however, someone cant slip ecstasy in your Virginia Slim and then take you somewhere to date-rape you.)
I think you get my drift. I am not advocating the strict ban of either; I am tired of the dishonesty for which people perpetrate in the name of causes. Moreover I do not want to hear the tired excuse that prohibition failed, its about the money. We know marijuana proponents continue to fight for legalization, and now 15 states currently have some form of legalized pot. Looks like more money for state coffers. Just try to find all the money spent on Anti-smoking campaigns, maybe that money could have been better spent toward child education? I personally like how Californians used $14.5 million dollars for anti-smoking commercials during Super Bowl, click the La Times link below.
Please, find your own facts, come to your own conclusion, but the next time you see someone light up, think about a drunk driver and ask yourself who is worse. Thanks for reading.
Sources;
http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2010/U.S.+Transportation+Secretary+LaHood+Announces+Lowest+Traffic+Fatalities+in+Six+Decades
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/supportingresearch/journal/abbey.aspx
http://www.alcoholicsvictorious.org/faq/impact.html
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/klaus061206.htm
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/12/local/la-me-super-bowl-20110212