Ban Cigarettes and Alcohol

I really don't care what you do over on that rock. Feel free to experiment with pure socialism all you want. Ban cigarettes, alcohols, milk, coffee, red meat, eggs.... go ahead. You'll discover exactly what 'freedom' means once you lose it all. Rest assured I will not be there to partake of your 'utopia' where people spend their days dreaming up the next 'evil' that should be removed from society. I will not see the joy on the face of the common man when they realize that every pleasure in life has been removed, in order to continue that dull existence for a short time longer as opposed to a more pleasurable but possibly shorter life.

Over here, in the USA, I will continue to smoke. I will continue to advocate the continued legal status of alcohol. I will continue to push for legalization of marijuana. I will continue to press on in the name of freedom for all, not just for me. And should I outlive you (as I already have most of the doctors who warned me I would die if I didn't stop smoking), I will shake my head sadly at that poor soul who traded pleasure for longevity, and obtained neither.

If you really want a utopia, try banning laws on morality. It might actually work.

TheRedneck

reply to post by TheRedneck


Talk about an OTT response.

This was just an opinion from one board member in the UK, it's not even on the cards as a possible banning, let alone ever going to happen. Calm down, you might get your patriotic panties in a twist!

reply to post by stumason

And my reply was the opinion of another member.

I tend to get defensive whenever I hear someone talk about, much less openly endorse, limits on personal freedom for no sound reason. Even more worrisome is the fact that you would consider my stance to be somehow extreme.

I'm glad I don't live in the UK. I'd rather be free.

TheRedneck

Alcohol abuse costs countries more than all other illegal drugs combined.

But, prohibition doesn't work - I'm not a regular drinker, but trying to ban alcohol is just flippin' stupid.

I've been meaning to get into home brewing for a while actually. This thread has just reminded me!



The culture of countries with drinking problems needs to be changed. From cradle to the grave and all other events in between, people are expected to drink to enjoy themselves.

Like with everything else, alcohol needs to be consumed in sensible amounts.

As for smoking... I've seen smokers scrounge around in the ash trays of their cars when they've run out of smokes, so they'd definitely find some way of getting tobacco somehow.

Then we'd have a black market for tobacco and it would be illegally traded anyway, so that'd be pointless as well.

*snip*

Mod Edit: Please Review the Following Link: Courtesy Is Mandatory

I read the first paragraph and first sentence of the second and quit.

Why the hell would you give the government authority to ban our choices, or rights?

So what if they cause cancer, so do hair dryers, cell phones, microwaves, the sun, and the list is endless.

Let us enjoy what we want until we die, don't ever let anyone ban a choice. If you don't like it, don't do it. Get our of our business.

You deliver the perfect response for a communist, get real. Now im going to grab a beer and have a smoke.

[edit on 17/10/08 by Jbird]

A lot of people here seem to forget that some cultures think these kinds of things are vital to our sensibility, our sanity, even our survival.

Would we distance ourselves from these things the Earth gives us that change our perceptions so willingly while giving others more power over us?

I smoke. I smoke and it feels good. I like to smoke when I think and when I have important conversations.

I drink. I drink and sometimes I have fun, sometimes it helps me along in my deep thoughts, and others it lets me see in a different perspective than I would have sober.

Some would take these things as a cop out to sober thought processes, but cultures older, wiser, and far more spiritual than us use these things to help advance them further.

They shouldn't be banned, people have a right to make their own decisions. In saying that, marijuana should have the same legal status, as it is far less harmfull and addictive than alcohol, and nicotine for that matter.

Wow. I find it odd that everyone does not remember - at least from school - Prohibition in the USA from 1920 to 1933 in the United States. And the problem with bootlegging [rum-running]. Other countries tried it around the same time as well. It gave rise to organized crime.

Check out the following link to Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org...

Banning any potentially addictive substance, just creates business for drug dealers and drug lords. Banning Alcohol and Tobacco would just turn ordinary citizens living in Canada and Mexico into drug dealers as USA citizens flock into these countries for their fix.

Of course the big money would be in to smuggling these items into the USA. They think they have border problems now - it would escalate far beyond what it is now, and turn the USA into a walled police state.

If anything, more drugs should be legalized and the government control them, and spend more money on educating the youth on the problems of addiction. At least one place in Canada - Vancouver B.C. has a shoot-up site. Where free needles are provided, a safe place to shoot up, drugs, and encouragement to get off of the drugs are all provided. The benefits are it reduced the crime rate around the neighborhood, and the streets are cleaner.

FYI - I drink sometimes, but that is about it. And rarely have more than two drinks.

reply to post by bodrul


You feeling okay? :|

Ban cigarettes and alcohol!? why take away someones simple pleasures in life, yes smoking is bad for your health, but it's not as bad as say morbid obesity, so hell why there at it why not ban mcdonalds, kfc, and every other fast food chain.
fair play i understand if in a public place it can effect other people, and there has been measures took on that, but taking away something like that, just no, sorry i have to strongley disagree.

reply to post by ETL71


Haha i remember my year 11 History project on this, Al Capone springs to mind, haha,
It's safe to say the banning of any of lifes more simple pleasures will always result in a nice bit of public revolt! x

reply to post by TheRedneck


And your post gets a shiny star from me, it's a horrible idea, lets just ban everything, heck we may aswell all just dress exactly the same and earn the same wage etc... sound familiar

why ban alcohol and fags???.

I love getting wrecked occasionally, there is no big deal in moderation.

people are nuts to want try ban something we all love..

hey lets ban sex too!

reply to post by chissler

Anyone who chooses to operate an automobile after consuming alcohol should be stigmatized as a murderer, rapist, or even child pedophile. But the substance itself should be legal.

Wow. Comparing drunk drivers to child rapists? That's the most ridiculous comparison I've heard in a LONG time. Yes, drinking increases the chances of getting into an accident. But it's not like the moment you take a sip from a beer, you'll automatically go crashing into the side of an elementary school. I've probably driven while slightly-moderately drunk over 200 times. Why? Three reasons.

1) I don't drink to excess. There's a LARGE difference between getting roaring, stumbling, stuttering drunk, and getting a bit tipsy, warm, and that "padded head" feeling.
2) I'm an awesome driver. Over 100,000 miles driven and never once been in an accident. Not to brag, I've just done it a lot, for work mostly. I don't lose control of my brain or my car.
3) It's fun. Sorry to burst any bubbles out there.


Oh, and I smoke cigarettes while I do it! Feel free to judge or condemn me, I really don't care because I know my body a lot better than anyone else.

Some people have addictive personalities. That is just a fact. So you take away the cigarettes and alcohol and they will find something else, simple as that.

Nothing should be banned for adults. The simple fact of telling someone they cannot do something gives it the "forbidden fruit" aura. Just makes the problem worse.

You cannot save people from themselves.

i agree that the black market and crime rate and opposition would absolutely skyrocket! and as some said we have tried prohibition and those "rum runners" is how NASCAR was born.
i smoke but even tho i do i still hate someone elses smoke blowing in my face esp. when i am eating. i respect other peoples rights to not be distirbed so if someone asks me to put it out i will or just go somewhere else.
as for alcohol i love my beer but rarely drink the hard stuff.if you drink and get drunk then call a frigging cab- don't take the chance. if you have the money to get drunk you have the money for a cab ride and can get your vehicle the next day.
our economy is bad enough and if they ban alcohol and cigarettes they would lose more in tax revenue than our entire national debt we have is worth!!!
and i don't do illegal drugs but i believe if something is used in it's natural form then yes it should be legal.
once you start refining it to make it more potent then no-ie coc aine heroin meth and such. hell i have spices in my cupboard that i can get high on- so what is next banning my nutmeg???

reply to post by expat2368


yeah completely agree!,,
just don't take away my chocolate as women will turn like nothing you have ever seen before

Originally posted by bodrul
Why doesn’t the government Ban them?
Over the years they have come up with new ways to try and stop people from consuming the above or less of the above

Both substances cause major accidents and death tolls ranging from cancer deaths to car accidents and other causes.

They have banned them in almost all areas to ensure that the people who consume the above have fewer places to consume them.

So why not ban them? They are dangerous substances, they are addictive and they are responsible for thousands of deaths a year.

The government come up with new measures but seem to stop on banning them because they know they will lose out on vital revenue from the sales of these products. They say they are dangerous yet they still allow them to be sold.

On the purpose of this topic, what do you think and what do you think should be done about this?

Stop right there guy! I know they are "bad" and it seems like if anything should be illegal, it should be smokes and booze, BUT, you are working off the false presumption that the government even has the right to tell you what you may and may not consume or possess. That requires ownership...of YOU. Think long and hard before you call for something to be banned...

why don't they ban tobacco and alcohol?

simple: it would be unconstitutional