General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I hate cigarettes, hate cigarette smoke, and wish no one smoked them... [View all]MellowDem
(5,018 posts)Unlike gay sex, smoking cigarettes in public does hurt other people.
The issue isn't a moral one, it's a health issue.
Yes, there are other pollutants out there, but they usually aren't running cars or coal plants in a small enclosed restaurant. And they also serve a purpose, one which society has to accept the costs of (and which are themselves being worked on to be lessened).
Someone can smoke in privacy all they want, so no privacy is being violated.
Of course, even smoking by yourself adds on certain costs to society in healthcare costs.
Defending an industry that relies on getting people chemically addicted to carcinogens has always been something that amused/infuriated me, especially when the tired "liberty" argument comes up. Spare me the Ron Paul insanity.
Even the comparison to alcohol isn't very good. Alcohol doesn't get people chemically addicted. One can drink responsibly. One can't really use cigarettes responsibly in a regular manner. It is still bad for you.
Cigarettes can't and shouldn't be banned, but they can be heavily regulated and restricted from public areas.