Smoking doesn't kill people, cancer kills people. Lord knows everything gives us Cancer now so I will continue to enjoy my tobacco products.
I did a paper for an English class 4 years ago on the Health Benefits of Smoking. It actually reduces your risk of Alzheimer’s, Colon Cancer, Prostate Cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. It also makes you more alert temporarily. Granted it also increases your risk of Lung Cancer, Heart Disease and Emphysema. Theoretically if you picked up smoking a pack a day at 65 years old the health benefits would outweigh the detriments, you would probably be dead from a non-smoking issue before a smoking related issue killed you.

I am not the ones saying its bad... hell I smoked for 10+ years like a b1tch in prison, just quit about 1 1/2 months ago...

I do miss it though... such an enjoyable habit...

So also say the freaks who sh!t (literally) on women and call it "sex"

^^^ how in the hell is that even comparable?

and really, why is everyone so uptight over smoking? If you don't like it, move away from the person smoking... its really simple.

The problem is the smoke. It carries and gets annoying. If it didn't smell or and present a second hand safefty risk I don't think anyone would give a damn about it.

I have, and yet in order to do some things I'm still stuck being around it.

My Mom, Dad, Sister all smoke. I don't like within 800 miles of them, but everytime I visit, I'm subjected to it, just as I was when I was a child until I was 19.

My guitar player smokes, am I supposed to find another musician...one that doesn't smoke? Good luck. As a non-smoking drummer, I'm rare...it seems.


And, also the problem is the arrogance that smokers have - they don't give a **** about other people. If you drove around with your horn blaring, someone would call you on it. Well, that little cancer stick is a horn blaring to all those around you.

Exactly. Nothing like being a musician, and just having band practice (let alone playing out)...coming home, and smelling it the next day in your clothes...then smelling it again days later as you're loading your washing machine.

My coat will stink of cigarettes for DAYS after I go to the guitar player's house. My Dad gave me a nice leather coat...that took 6 months to stop stinking up my closet, and even now if I move it, it stinks. My Dad also gave me his 75 Les Paul Custom 4 years ago...and take a guess at how long it's taken to stop stinking...it hasn't yet. Every time I open it, I smell the stink of cigarettes.

Last night I was helping my bass player re-wire his PA speaker cabinets, and I got a nose full of 30 years of bar-funk...I about had to stop what I was doing...

The smoke stinks, it causes issues with anyone and everyone within a 20ft radius, and it's persistent....like herpes.

I'm with you, Steve. NO smoking/drinking/eating in MY beaZt! It's a thrill machine, not a Bar, Eatery or anything of the sort!

Thrill Machine, baby!

I have never understood why people think it's ok to throw flaming trash out of their cars.

Pisses me off, too.

Why should the majority of musicians, as you make it out to seem, change to appease you? It sounds to me like you're being the arrogant one.

I was next to a car at a stop light that had 4 adults in it and a small child in a car seat in the back between 2 adults. All 4 adults were smoking, just killing the kid IMO. Guess they dont know what 2nd hand smoke can do.

im a musician. i dont smoke. smoking is for kids and dumbarses. :stirthepot:

how's that? :tup: :p

Simple. By not smoking, I'm not causing *harm* to other people and have the dillusion that it doesn't hurt anyone.

Personally, I think it'd be great if people could sue for damages relating to 2nd hand smoke (potential medical expenses - $100/indicent sounds fair)...or better yet, could just punch the person smoking (just once), and the smoker couldn't do anything legally (civil or criminal) about it.

That would make sure that smokers keep their habit at home, where they can cause cancer in thier children, pets, and other loved ones.

I think what would finally do it is to put a $20/pack heath-tax on cigarettes...

good idea and that would help fund the new health care bill.. By george you have solved the riddle.

LOL...I read on another forum there'll be a 10% heath tax on tanning.

OMFG you'd think the world exploded. Now instad of $20/15 minutes, it'll be $22. Holy crap.

And just think I can save $22 dollars by just going outside and tanning and get all leathery skin for free.

But really I think a nice health tax on cigs would really be a good idea, how much is spent on health problems from cigs when you are older? I saw both my parents die from cigs and alcohol.

Depends on where - you don't want to shrivel your willy...and remember no one wants tan lines...

I'm sure there will be "health fines" on items that are just stupid that people do. McDonalds will cost more. Wheat Bread will get cheaper. Raw ingredients will get cheaper. Cigarettes and other tobacco products will get hella more expensive.

Is it a bad thing? No. Will people scream about it? Yep, like 300,000,000 2yr olds.

They also want to know how many calories are in alcohol beverages.

I'll just use the new health care and get an implant like women do.

They just raised taxes on cigs last year by over a $1/pack. Taxes on cigs range from $1.50 - $3 per pack. I think that's already excessive. Tax gas, its worse for the environment, and provides plenty of pollution for your lungs.

They do tax gas, it goes up all the time, I dont see cigs going up aon a weekly basis.

I don't smoke, but cigarette taxes in New York City are over $4 a pack.

I don't smoke and I hate it. But I support peoples rights to do it if they please. And any government based tax on goods because they're "bad" for you is unconstitutional crap. It needs to stop.

Its not the bad for you, the person smoking, that they care about really. Its the problems they are doing to those around them that dont smoke. Kill yourself, those that smoke, but not those that dont. You think that little girl in the car I saw had a choice on them smoking and hurting her young and growing lungs? If they do that enough she will have problems even if she doesnt learn from them and smoke.

Oh i totally agree with you 100%. But problems such as those aren't fixed by taxing the product. A awful parent poisoning their child with a $10 pack of cigarettes is no different than an awful parent poisoning their child with a $5 pack.

The sign of the times bro. It's about time too. Only ~20% of people smoke (in the US anyway) so why should there be an "Ash" tray in the car? LOL I'm glad I don't have a cancer stick recipticle in my Z. It's actually nice. :ughdance:

For spare change I use a cup Cell holder. There are all kinds out there.

I know it was a joke about raising the taxes to support the new health care plan it just gotta little side tracked.

They don't tax tobacco because it's bad for you. It's a Excise (consumption) tax, much like the tax on alcohol or gasoline... and soon, if there is a God, marijuana. :happydance:

bit I do that without taxes now. hmmm might have to have maijuana party to stop them from taxing us.



I dont really smoke it, I get tested at work.

Yes! The Pot Party! We stand for stuff, but can't remember what it is :tup:

Yes...but excise taxes are put in place in order to discourage purchase of goods.

And if the Gov't was smart they would legalize pot and make a shitload of money off of it.

Thats GOOD man, really GOOD.

Yes they would! But those consumption taxes, they are in palce because they know people will always buy booze, and gasoline, etc, it discourages nothing w00t

Wiki:

In defence of excises on strong drink, Adam Smith wrote: "It has for some time past been the policy of Great Britain to discourage the consumption of spirituous liquors, on account of their supposed tendency to ruin the health and to corrupt the morals of the common people."<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference">[6]</sup> Samuel Johnson was less flattering in his 1755 dictionary: "EXCI'SE. n.s. ... A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid."<sup id="cite_ref-sj_6-0" class="reference">[7]</sup>

can we say "MONEY MONEY MONEY"

Not sure what your point is, but the facts are Tobacco use is right up there amongst the leading causes of death for both men and women. Also contributes to the most common cancer (Lung). 90% of lung cancer patients smoked. Some say obesity and heart disease is the number one. Well it's debateable and IMHO both are right up there! It's also said that a one pack a day smoker is like someone being 90 Lbs overweight health wise. Besides to keep this Z related. I rather be buying a 370Z than smoking a couple packs a day! :) Just think of all that money smokers throw away... :roflpuke2:

Here some fun facts:
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/30

Wow sobering

That is true, however, they probably will with the healthcare bill.

In fact, if they don't, I'd be surprised.

im glad they are banning smoking from a lot of restaurants. nothing worse than having a great meal getting ruined by smoke.

Except a $5 tax on top of each pack sold would go a long way towards paying for the expenses that the user or their child may face when it comes to smoking related illnesses.

1 pack a day, $5 x 365 x 30 years smoking = approx $55K. That's not even close to what radiation costs...but it'd help.

Which is why the govt shouldn't be adding the tax on top. It takes that money out of their pocket. It's not like they give the money back if you get cancer.