New Zealand Overturns Smoking Ban

[Debrah N.]

Please do advocate for deadly/damaging lifestyle, don't let my words get in your way.

Have you ever looked at Portugal's experience with the decision to decriminalize drugs? They were a hotbed for drug use but after they changed their laws and looked at it as a health issue instead (unless you are a dealer), their numbers dropped considerably and apparently, two decades later, have kind of stabilized at a lower level than in Europe. The important thing is to have assistance available to help those who want to get better which most criminalizing doesn't do.

 

[Buckeye]

You know what? I've changed my mind, certainly don't want to stand in the way of people adopting life threatening lifestyles, there's nothing more exciting than dying of lung cancer or the host of metabolic illnesses that obesity brings.
...just don't whine about the cost of medical treatment or expect society to help with astronomical health bills.

With all due respect, it is not up to you whether or not any of us comment on the high cost of health bills. I'm not a "blame the victim" person, but you are free to continue to be if that is what makes you feel better about yourself.

For the record, my first wife, who never smoked, never drank, was never overweight, and exercised daily, was diagnosed with ALS in the summer of 2000, and after a debilitating 18 month decline, passed away, unable to speak or eat or scratch her own nose. But I'm sure you will find a way to blame her for it.

 

[Nathan]

With all due respect, it is not up to you whether or not any of us comment on the high cost of health bills. I'm not a "blame the victim" person, but you are free to continue to be if that is what makes you feel better about yourself.

You're quite right, it's not up to me whether or not others comment on the high cost of health bills...whatever that's supposed to mean.
Wait, how did I become a "blame the victim person"...on your say so?
Sorry to hear of the loss of your wife.

 

[Debrah N.]

With all due respect, it is not up to you whether or not any of us comment on the high cost of health bills. I'm not a "blame the victim" person, but you are free to continue to be if that is what makes you feel better about yourself.

For the record, my first wife, who never smoked, never drank, was never overweight, and exercised daily, was diagnosed with ALS in the summer of 2000, and after a debilitating 18 month decline, passed away, unable to speak or eat or scratch her own nose.

That must have been a very hard 18 months for you and her of course. I knew a guy once, who's sister was married to a man who was diagnosed with ALS. She left her husband and her brother (the guy I knew) stepped in and took care of him until he died. Goes to show who got the 'heart' in their family doesn't it?

 

[Nathan]

Have you ever looked at Portugal's experience with the decision to decriminalize drugs? They were a hotbed for drug use but after they changed their laws and looked at it as a health issue instead (unless you are a dealer), their numbers dropped considerably and apparently, two decades later, have kind of stabilized at a lower level than in Europe. The important thing is to have assistance available to help those who want to get better which most criminalizing doesn't do.

My apologies, I misunderstood your last post. Portugal's approach should be the model to follow, sending millions of drug users to prisons is not only ineffective and enormously expensive, the prison experience only hardens the individuals and becomes a greater burden on society.

 

[Debrah N.]

My apologies, I misunderstood your last post. Portugal's approach should be the model to follow, sending millions of drug users to prisons is not only ineffective and enormously expensive, the prison experience only hardens the individuals and becomes a greater burden on society.

No problem Nathan.

 

[chic]

What about the "My body, my choice" mantra I keep hearing?

Is tobacco bad for you? Yes, but so are french fries and coke. Obesity is the second leading cause of death in the US. Are you okay with applying a "sin tax" to what you eat to discourage you from buying it? Or charge obese people more for health care? Or deny health services to you if your BMI is over a certain amount?

And, of course, then we can apply the same principle to any inherently dangerous activity, such as, oh, swimming or mountain climbing or motorcycle riding or taking a shower (every day, someone in the US dies from an accident in the tub or shower...) ????

So please, do the math, indeed.

p.s. I don't smoke, and not obese, just pleasingly plump...

I feel the same about it and applaud New Zealand for this decision. I didn't think they had the will to do so.

 

[hollydolly]

A pack of 20 cigarettes in the UK is around £13 ($16.50). Obviously, it's highly addictive, and can have health repercussions. I'll also say, I've never smoked myself, but my partner smokes, and I've known many smokers (I was the only one in my family of 5 that didn't smoke). A ban on smoking would have zero effect on me. Which on the surface makes me indifferent to the rules.

£13?... try again ..... £16.50 in Morrisons.... OMG, I remember when they were that much for a carton...

https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/benson-hedges-gold-cigarettes-478031011

 

[horseless carriage]

£13?... try again ..... £16.50 in Morrisons.... OMG, I remember when they were that much for a carton...

https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/benson-hedges-gold-cigarettes-478031011

They were just short of five shillings for twenty (25 pence) when I quit. I started in my late teens whilst at college, and quit when I got married in 1968. Seeing that link in Holly's post is what prompted my reminisce, I smoked that brand, fifty-five years ago.