It’s not acceptable to die from alcohol-related disease or from drunk driving. Society has serious stigmas against both alcoholism and driving under the influence. But we separate out excessive or uncontrolled drinking from social drinking because it is possible to consume alcohol in moderate amounts without serious consequences. Some studies have even found health benefits to moderate drinking.
The societal prohibition against drunk driving is far stronger than the prohibition against smoking. For one thing, drunk driving is illegal. Besides, as neutron star has explained, the numbers tell the story.
Of course, none of this makes it acceptable to harass people regarding their personal habits. But please do whatever you can to stop someone from driving drunk.
If they’re related to you, you very well might be their daddy or momma. And have not only a right, but a responsibility to make sure that they are fully aware of the dangers of starting a habit today that is one of the most difficult in the world to quit and that could easily kill them down the line.
It’s simliar to how you really cared about the drinking age being 21 when you were 18 or 19 or 20 and then you turned 21 and then, all of a sudden, the issue didn’t remotely interest you.
When people smoke, they really care about smoker’s rights. Non-smokers really don’t. Why would they?
I think being anti-smoking might be considered to be “in” because people are quitting in droves. I know very few people that smoke anymore, probably because it’s disgusting, expensive and horribly unhealthy.
Obviously if you are their momma or daddy you have a right to say something. I kinda thought that one went without saying. In all other cases though, it’s, all you good intentions aside, none of your damned business.
It’s impossible in this day and age to be unaware of the dangers of smoking. Therefore, smokers are engaging in an act with full knowledge of the consequences. Lecturing them about it will only serve, in my experience and in the experience of all smokers I’ve ever talked to, annoy them and in many cases, keep them in the habit just to spite you. IMHO, of course. ;j
Well, the circle of friends I’m in is kinda like that … a cigarette just seems to go with a good cold beer … but there might be many days or weeks between.
Light drinking does no lasting harm to most people (provided they don’t get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle immediately afterward), and may even have some health benefits (especially if it’s red wine). AFAIK, though, there’s no known safe level of tobacco exposure.
As for myself: I’m anti-smoking because I’m asthmatic, and smoke sets off attacks almost 100% of the time, even if I’m just walking through the cloud of smoke created by the people smoking too close to the outer door of my office building. If they want to ruin their lungs, that’s their own stupidity, but I don’t feel they should have the right to ruin mine, too. I’m so glad that I live in the U.S. at the beginning of the 3rd millenium A.D.; otherwise, I’d be so screwed by smoke in the workplace.
No, no, what I meant was mostly I could care less if someone’s a smoker or not. All I request is that if we’re in my house they go outdoors.
If I’m looking at someone as a long term girlfriend then smoking’s a dealbreaker. If I find out she’s a smoker I won’t try and stop her but I will lose any attraction. (Happened 3 times this year :()
Close family members is where I’d get really pushy – if my sister started smoking I’d probably attempt to browbeat her into not, but since she’s not a smoker it’s a moot point.