Chile Forum

Is smoking any more dangerous that drinking? Why don't smokers have the same rights as drinkers? Don't get me wrong, I gave up smoking 25 years ago, but I don't believe that everybody should quit just because I did. Is drinking any better? I gave up drinking too. So should everybody else quit drinkingFree? Let people be responsible for themselves. Quit telling everybody what to do. Freedom is precious, quit trying to widdle away at it. Once freedom is lost it is difficult to get back.

bjdrogo wrote:Is smoking any more dangerous that drinking? Why don't smokers have the same rights as drinkers?

There is a rumour that a moderate intake of good Chilean red wine can provide a number of positive health benefits. Haven't heard comparable rumours about even moderate smoking. But I may still be living under a rock.

bjdrogo wrote: Why don't smokers have the same rights as drinkers?

Because for the past 400 years smokers have rudely filled the workplaces and other habitable enclosures of the planet with unwelcome and toxic smoke, and now it's payback time, though I believe the villagers have been asked not to place the severed heads of former smokers on pikes at the city gates.

bjdrogo wrote: Let people be responsible for themselves.

Starting with a separate health care system comprising and funded exclusively by smokers.

bjdrogo wrote: Freedom is precious, quit trying to widdle away at it.

You mean "whittle"? Clinical trials have suggested that smoking addictive alkaloids negatively affects orthography. The fall of the great empires has been attributed to smoke-induced degradation in orthography.

bjdrogo wrote: Once freedom is lost it is difficult to get back.

Once cardiovascular health is lost due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it's difficult to get it back.

bjdrogo wrote:Is smoking any more dangerous that drinking? Why don't smokers have the same rights as drinkers? Don't get me wrong, I gave up smoking 25 years ago, but I don't believe that everybody should quit just because I did. Is drinking any better? I gave up drinking too. So should everybody else quit drinkingFree? Let people be responsible for themselves. Quit telling everybody what to do. Freedom is precious, quit trying to widdle away at it. Once freedom is lost it is difficult to get back.

Yes. Drinking in moderation has health benefits, smoking has none and it makes you uglier on top of that. If people want to smoke inside their home, fine. Have fun with your cancer stick. The problem I have is people smoking in public places, therefore bombarding me and my 2 year old with second hand smoke. That is not okay with me and that will never be okay with me, or with any mom who loves their child and wants them to be healthy. It is rude!!!

bjdrogo wrote:Let people be responsible for themselves. Quit telling everybody what to do. Freedom is precious, quit trying to widdle away at it. Once freedom is lost it is difficult to get back.

I agree. A smoker should have the priviledge of killing himself/herself earlier if they wish.

But, on the other hand, I do not appreciate a smoker smoking in an environment where I must breathe their smoke.

And I do not appreciate public health care funds being frittered away on attempting to keep them healthy. For the same reason, I believe any irresponsible act (especially illegal ones) causing adverse health consequences should be billed to the person causing the problem, e.g. drink drivers, alcoholics, illegal drug users (except their rehab costs), assaults.

bjdrogo wrote:. . . Is smoking any more dangerous that drinking? Why don't smokers have the same rights as drinkers?

Because a drinker can poison their own bodies without poisoning bodies of those around them. That is not case with smokers when they smoke where non-smokers wish to also be.

Seabee wrote:*Yawn* Pleeease guys.... Chilean don't smoke neither drink as much as other societies around the world do

I definitely have to say that Chileans smoke at least equal to or more than people in Boston (don't know about the rest of the US). I haven't gotten the impression that they drink more, though. I have observed that they generally seem to get drunk a lot faster than we do though, so maybe they've got a lower tolerance or something.

RG,

It's just that Boston has an unfair advantage in that there are so my residents of Irish descent.

It's shocking to me when I see little kids smoke!

While i've never been to chile about the 20 or so chileans i know here in Toronto, Canada all but 2 of them smoke, but the most of my friends from other countries smoke. I think maybe the issue is chileans smoke more cigarettes in an hours time of hanging out with friends than people from other countries. An example would be I used to smoke and when i'd hang out with my other friends that smoke including the chileans in 20 minutes time most of my friends would have 3 cigs, i'd have 1 and 1/2 where as most of the chileans would be on cig 5 or 6. I'm not saying this is all of them just my friends.

I think they should be able to smoke as long as it's not indoors and they have a special place just for the smokers to sit outdoors while smoking.

And I do not appreciate public health care funds being frittered away on attempting to keep them healthy. For the same reason, I believe any irresponsible act (especially illegal ones) causing adverse health consequences should be billed to the person causing the problem, e.g. drink drivers, alcoholics, illegal drug users (except their rehab costs), assaults.

Smokers already pay a lot of money for health care every-time they buy a pack of cigs especially in Europe where the tax level on cigarettes is massive. I remember reading an article a few years back that said if everyone in Europe was to stop smoking, it would actually cost everyone more money due to the huge loss in cigarette tax money.

Another problem with making the "irresponsible person pay" is where does that end if you live in a country where you have to have health insurance. I can just picture it "Oh according to our records you went to Burger king once, I'm afraid were not going to cover the costs of your stroke".

Because a drinker can poison their own bodies without poisoning bodies of those around them. That is not case with smokers when they smoke where non-smokers wish to also be.

How about when drinker hits someone with their car or when a drunken man beats his family or when drunk groups of people go around smashing things up. Who causes the most damage then a smoker or a drinker?

Seabee wrote:*Yawn* Pleeease guys.... Chilean don't smoke neither drink as much as other societies around the world do. I can see many of you are getting like the typical Chilean, narrow mind, that doesn't see beyond their street corner. Go around the world and see for yourself.

Russians and Chinese are among the most tobacco users per capita in the world, and they are not even in the top five in the world! Chileans don't even make the statistics compared to those guys! Check Greeks or Bulgarian who are in the top 5

You'll find more tobacco users per capita in the U.S., Japan, Australia or Spain than in Chile. And "Canadia" is just below of Chile. C'mon guys give this country some credit

I don´t like making any claims for or against what anyone has said without statistical information to back me. I will say this, however, I am shocked at the number of people who smoke in Santiago. I was speaking with my Chilean friend and he said tongue in Chile "yet another thing Chile is number one in!". He was referring to some article in el murcurio. So, maybe yes, maybe know. It does remind me of being in Kentucky seeing all the smokers.

john wrote:RG,

It's just that Boston has an unfair advantage in that there are so my residents of Irish descent.

Maybe...but I'm from English/Welsh descent and it takes a lot more Pisco to get me fried than it seems to take my Chilean friends. They drink three or four Pisco sours and they're swinging around the lamp posts singing "Luck Be A Lady"...I drink three or four, plus a couple beers, and I don't feel a thing.

Smoking is more visual, you see more people smoking in the UK for sure, due to the smoking ban, forcing everyone to smoke outside.

I have found it easier quiting smoking in Santiago then back in the UK as I actually don't know anyone in Chile who smokes, and the bars I've been going in I haven't noticed anyone smoking, so they are either well ventilated or has a smoking ban in Chile and I just didn't know? Hehe.

However the actual smog in Santiago, well that kind of makes us all light smokers...