'Ban all tobacco' - US health chief

Guardian (UK) ^ | June 4, 2003 | Duncan Campbell

[Mister Magoo]

'Ban all tobacco' - US health chief

Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles Thursday June 5, 2003 The Guardian

The surgeon general of the United States, Richard Carmona, has said he would support the abolition of cigarettes and all tobacco products, the first time that such a senior public health official has taken that kind of stand over the industry. Dr Carmona's statement was welcomed yesterday by anti-smoking organisations and condemned by the tobacco industry. The Bush administration, which enjoys the support and financial backing of the tobacco industry, yesterday distanced itself from the abolition position.

The US already has some of the toughest anti-smoking legislation in the world. California has led the way. Last year it banned smoking in all areas next to playgrounds or "tot lot" areas. Similar measures are being considered nationwide.

The state, which has banned smoking in public buildings, bars and restaurants, is also considering a ban in some blocks of flats. Delaware has a similar ban. Connecticut will impose one from next April, and this week Maine moved towards a ban. New York has banned smoking in bars and restaurants.

Ordinances framed also by local councils curtailing cigarette smoking are introduced almost weekly. Santa Monica recently made it an offence, punishable by a £160 fine, to dispose of "smoking-related waste" in a public park.

There have, however, been few suggestions that tobacco should be banned altogether.

Dr Carmona made his controversial remarks while giving evidence to energy and commerce sub-committee hearings at Congress on smoking products that supposedly reduce the risk of cancer. He was asked if he would support the abolition of "all tobacco products". He said: "I would at this point, yes."

He said that he was not a legislator but that he would "support banning or abolishing tobacco products ". He saw "no need for any tobacco products in society".

One of the country's leading anti-smoking campaigners, Jeffrey Wigand, the head of Smokefree Kids, said: "I applaud him. I hope that stirs people up to do something. This would set a tremendous precedent and would have a major effect on world health."

Mr Wigand, a tobacco industry whistleblower who was portrayed by the actor Russell Crowe in the film The Insider, said it was notable that such a senior public health official was so outspoken. "There are 460,000 deaths directly attributable to tobacco in the United States every year," said Mr Wigand. "The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2015 tobacco will be killing more than 10 million a year."

He said that the US, as the leading exporter of tobacco, had a particular responsibility to regulate tobacco use.

But Dr Carmona's remarks are unlikely to lead to any radical moves by the administration. The tobacco industry is a longtime supporter of the Republican party and there have been objections by conservative and libertarian commentators to the restaurant and bar smoking bans.

The White House yesterday said that Dr Carmona's remarks represented his views as a doctor, not those of the administration, whose main focus was discouraging young people from smoking. About 45 million Americans smoke, in a population of 280 million.

Tobacco companies have changed their strategies on the issue of regulation. Philip Morris, the country's biggest tobacco company, is running adverts urging teenagers to "think, don't smoke". They argue that their products are aimed at adults and the issue is one of freedom of choice.

Cigarettes in films is the subject of one of the latest anti-smoking campaigns; the public has been urged to complain by writing to actors who smoke on screen. Tobacco firms have denied that they paid for actors to use their products in films.

[Protagoras]

"We are at that awkward stage in our history, It's too late to work within the system, and too early to shoot the bastards"

[wardaddy]

Hear Hear!

[MrLeRoy]

It's too late to work within the system, and too early to shoot the bastards

Nicely put.

[berserker]

Packs of Marlboro brand cigarettes are displayed in this Aug. 21, 1997, file photo in New York. American cigarettes such as Marlboros contain up to twice the amount of a cancer-causing chemical as foreign brands, federal health officials said Friday, May 30, 2003. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites) compared the levels of the carcinogen nitrosamine in Marlboros, chosen because of their worldwide availability, and local brands in 13 other countries. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File).

[Fraulein]

ping!

[Drew68]

I'm 27 : within my lifetime, here's what I fully expect to see

Did you ever see the 1993 Sly Stallone/Sandra Bullock film Demolition Man? It paints a vision of the future that is pretty much the way you described it.

At the time (1993) the film seemed preposterous. Now it doesn't at all whatsoever.

[SierraWasp]

"We are at that awkward stage in our history... bastards."

As much as I love to argue... That's real hard to argue with!!!

[Cultural Jihad]

So, CJ, do you now believe that laws ... be repealed?

Do the good people of Pennsylvania really require those in other states to decide their own self-governance for them?

[Bella_Bru]

That's fine....the mob needs a boost anyway.

[Cultural Jihad]

"We are at that awkward stage in our history, It's too late to work within the system, and too early to shoot the bastards"

Is FreeRepublic established in order to allow the advocacy of political violence by armchair revolutionaries and other agent provocateurs? Anyone who claims to believe the state of the nation is hopeless has no real reason being here, IMHO.

[MarkL]

I bet things aren't this bad in gun-grabbing ol' Britain yet!

I read a lot of British motorcycle magazines, and you should see what the cigarette manufacturers have to put on the packs over there! None of this "Surgeon General Warning" crap... They go straight to a "skull and crossbones" and wording similar to, "are you out of your mind? This stuff will kill you!"

Then again, this from a magazine where I picked up this helmet sticker:

If you can read this, my head has come off, so it might be a good idea to call an ambulance

Mark

[OOPisforLiberals]

Indeed I did. The parallels between that movie and what I'm seeing these days is pure double-take material. Bibbidibibbidibibbidi...wha?

And you know, honestly, if I wasn't thorougly entrenched in the whole gun-control issue, this wouldn't be nearly as "scary" as it seems now. Just like gun owners scoffed years and years ago, your average joe (liberal or otherwise) thinks "oh right, they're going to ban Oreo's. Whatever!". But if you look at the strategy and general approach behind the lifestyle nazis - its the same damn thing through and through. You could replace "guns" with "cigarettes" or "Oreos" and tell the same story.

Now, I grant you drawing the comparison between guns and food it bordering on hyperbole - but the history of the world is written on the backs of busybodies. The same people who quote "need" want to legislate every aspect of how you live. The scale doesn't matter - guns to cookies. Its all up for grabs.

I really hate sounding like a kooky conspiracy theorist, but DAMN is the resemblance spooky.

[Great Dane]

Talk about panic and hysteria. Congress would have a mass stroke.

And wouldn't that be fun to watch.

[Great Dane]

Please, PLEASE! Help me. I need guidance on what to do with my life. HELP!

Take a year long nap. :-}

[TheMom]

For many years so many people have commented about the loss of revenue if liberals get their way and smoking is 'outlawed". Because the numbers were not right in front of me, I did a bit of research - - in 2001 the total revenue reported to the IRS from tobacco sales was $18,723,895,000.00; $$$ thru the 2nd Quarter of 2002 was $7,985,647,000.00.

I am really interested to know how the ‘get rid of tobacco’ weirdo’s are gonna make up for the above loss of revenue. I say increase the tax on chocolate, candy, and vitamins.

[mysterio]

I think it would be great if they did this. Let them see what a problem they would create. If it's illegal, they can't tax it. Making pot illegal certainly worked great, so I think it would effectively wipe out cigarettes, too. I can't wait until the first government enabler gets his or her no knock tobacco search.

[Eaker]

Great research!!!!

You are spot-on!!!

A great big tax on soccer balls would be good too!

Eaker

[MrLeRoy]

"We are at that awkward stage in our history, It's too late to work within the system, and too early to shoot the bastards"

Is FreeRepublic established in order to allow the advocacy of political violence

Which part of "too early" did you not understand? If you want to get someone banned (rather than have to debate them), your complaint will have to be much less stupid.

[MrLeRoy]

That's fine....the mob needs a boost anyway.

Yep, having become accustomed to the money sent their way as a consequence of the War On Some Drugs, they now want to broaden its scope.

[Just another Joe]

If it's illegal, they can't tax it.

Don't be so sure.

Iowa Touts Illegal Drug Stamp Tax