# Is is the "in" thing to be an anti-smoker? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208 "2002-12-12T05:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/1 "2002-12-12T05:18:52Z")
I’ve always been puzzled by the fact that more people die each year due to the effects of alcohol than tobacco. Yet, there is so much stong anti-tobacco sentiment out there. When did it become acceptable to die from alcoholism/liver problems (and as a result of drunk driving accidents), but not lung cancer? Eric \<—tobacco free for 9.5 months. ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/2 "2002-12-12T05:24:04Z")
Sorry, I meant “Is IT the in thing…” ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/3 "2002-12-12T05:34:56Z")
Because the drinking of others doesn’t affect me. Can’t be said for cigarettes. Secondhand smoke is harmful, plus smoke stinks like shit and gets in my hair and clothes. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/4 "2002-12-12T05:39:38Z")
We tried prohibition of alcohol once upon a time…remember how well that worked? and there is plenty of anti-alcohol sentiment “out there”. They sent a teenage girl here to prison recently for several years because she had a wreck while under the influence and her best friend (in the car w/ her) was killed. This is happening quite a lot. This was a HS senior/ cheerleader/honors/ no priors/ good family/plenty of $$ kinda chick. The laws are getting tougher. I know another guy serving time for a few years for DUI, no wreck, no speeding, nothing…just putting gas in his BMW (the guy has mucho $$) to no avail…he’s gone (3 strikes) You can’t have any open containers in the vehicle, passengers included and 1 beer consumed is 1 too many. Regardless of whose fault, if you are in an accident and you even smell like booze it’s your ass. NO, if’s and’s or but’s. Yeah, there’s plenty of pressure out there…MADD is everywhere. BTW how much tax $$ is included in the price of alcohol. Sorry if I got off the subject…it started when it became “fact” that 2nd hand smoke is supposedly worse for you than first hand smoke. True or Not, I don’t know…either way, a non-smoker has the right to not have smoke blown in their face. But to tell me I can’t smoke a cigar in my car while driving on a public street is BULLSHIT…:mad: ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/5 "2002-12-12T05:41:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hazel-rah \* > \*\*Because the drinking of others doesn’t affect me. Can’t be said for cigarettes. Secondhand smoke is harmful, plus smoke stinks like shit and gets in my hair and clothes. \*\* You don’t have car insurance? I don’t have a cite, but I believe a big portion of what you pay in car insurance is related to accidents caused by drunk drivers. Anyone, correct me if I’m wrong here. Cheers! Jet ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/6 "2002-12-12T05:46:47Z")
\>BTW how much tax $$ is included in the price of alcohol. I’m not sure, but if alcohol was taxed at the same rate that tobacco is, there would be a revolt. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/7 "2002-12-12T05:48:01Z")
I’m sure health insurance is more expensive due to cigarettes, too. I was thinking of it more on a social basis. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/8 "2002-12-12T07:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve always been puzzled by the fact that more people die each year due to the effects of alcohol than tobacco. Do you get all of your medical information from Phillip Morris’s PR department? [110,000](http://alcoholism.about.com/library/narmort01.htm) die from alcohol-related disease each year in the U.S. Add to that the [17,500](http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/3d.htm) that die in drunk driving accidents and you get 127,500. Compare that to tobacco’s staggering death toll of [440,000](http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/research_data/economics/mmwr5114.highlights.htm) annually and you can see why people aren’t too happy. Also, I’d wager dollars to donuts that there are a hell of a lot more people who only drink once or twice a month than there are tobacco users who smoke that infrequently. Nicotine seems to hook a higher percentage of its users than alcohol does. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/9 "2002-12-12T08:28:00Z")
Neutron Star: Do you happen to know the numbers to the amount of deaths related to autos alone? I would happen to guess they are much higher then smoking. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/10 "2002-12-12T08:31:40Z")
I don’t understand. Are you sure you’re reading my post right? > [@](#): > > 110,000 die from alcohol-related disease each year in the U.S. **Add to that the 17,500 that die in drunk driving accidents** and you get 127,500. See the CDC site I linked to for more specific breakdowns on the drunk driving fatalities. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/11 "2002-12-12T08:52:36Z")
Yes, I read your post right. I just think cars themselves are a bigger threat then smoking or drinking. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/12 "2002-12-12T08:57:46Z")
There were [37,795](http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/) automobile fatalities in the U.S. in 2001. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/13 "2002-12-12T11:34:43Z")
Debating smoking at this point is meaningless. There’s enough info available that everyone’s made up their minds for better or worse. I’ve got a friend that’s still refusing to believe there’s any link between lung cancer and smoking – she’s a biology undergraduate at uni with hopes of getting into medicine, scary that! Everyone I know either smokes or doesn’t give a shit. I don’t smoke but what other people do isn’t my concern. The only times I think it’s my business when someone’s a smoker is if they’re a family member or a potential SO. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/14 "2002-12-12T11:46:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > \*\*They sent a teenage girl here to prison recently for several years because she had a wreck while under the influence and her best friend (in the car w/ her) was killed. This is happening quite a lot. This was a HS senior/ cheerleader/honors/ no priors/ good family/plenty of $$ kinda chick. The laws are getting tougher. \*\* Cite? This situation comes up at least once or twice a year around here and the driver always walks. I realize that some people do serve jail time for DWI’s (usually after their 4th) but this seems over the top. A good friend of mine died in this same situation and the driver **walked**. Not even a ticket AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/15 "2002-12-12T13:40:14Z")
I am very vocal about my dislike for alcohol, just as much as my dislike for smoking. (and drug use) But nobody listens to me. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/16 "2002-12-12T21:28:48Z")
**Cisco** , this is Texas…believe me when I say… You do not want to do time here! The laws are getting tough, going to prison for first time minor offenses. You get caught w/ a “roach” in the ashtray, you might wind up in the JOINT. I wasn’t gonna cite because I don’t think it would be right to display that poor girl’s name on the internet. If you want to find it try Tyler,Texas. There were a couple of accidents very similar to the one I described last year. As far as the guy w/ the BMW…same thing, we’re neighbors and I wouldn’t do that to his family. Believe me or not, it’s true and it’s happening more and more frequently. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/17 "2002-12-13T19:20:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silentgoldfish \* > \*\*The only times I think it’s my business when someone’s a smoker is if they’re a family member or a potential SO. \*\* I’d have to disagree with you on this one. Even if they’re related to you, or are a potential S.O. it’s still none of your buisness IMHO. It’s all about personal responsibility. The smoker’s. Not yours. If you don’t want to date a smoker, don’t. But don’t try to lecture them about their habit, you aint their daddy or momma. Maybe I’m just bitter b/c I just got a “smoking lecture” from a co-worker while standing outside having a smoke. By myself. Gah, what _is_ it with people thinking that smokers are the _one_ group that they have the right to stroll up and lecture to about a personal habit whenever the spirit moves them? ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/18 "2002-12-13T19:36:32Z")
Well said lezlers, I agree. I actually quite smoking 2 months ago (still on nicotine patch) and I do not lecture any of my smoking friends. If they ask I will tell them how I quit though. The only ones who could get a lecture are the underaged people you know are smoking (not that they will listen) but once they are of legal age the chioce is theirs. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/19 "2002-12-13T20:47:30Z")
Tolerance and acceptance are okay so long as you don’t disagree. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208/20 "2002-12-13T20:59:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kasuo \* > \*\*Tolerance and acceptance are okay so long as you don’t disagree. \*\* I’m sorry, but it’s Friday and I don’t follow you… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-is-the-in-thing-to-be-an-anti-smoker/142208.md?page=2)