Smoking opponents' hypocrisy stinks

Smoking opponents' hypocrisy stinks
Copyright by the Chicago Sun Times
January 25, 2006

The dangers of smoking get plenty of coverage in the media. Smoking can kill: Secondhand smoke is hazardous to your health, and in many parts of our country smoking is banned in restaurants, bars and within 15 feet of buildings. In our almost frenzied drive to eradicate smoking, we seem to be ignoring the potential dangers and deadly effects of alcohol. Having, at one time, spent many years in the bar and nightclub business, I can attest to the tragedies caused by alcohol: broken marriages, lost businesses and jobs, disintegration of pride and character and domestic abuse fueled by alcohol and sometimes resulting in murder.

Secondhand smoke? What about secondhand alcohol? How many drunken drivers kill people in America every day? I'd venture to say that it's more than those who die from secondhand smoke, and these deaths are on record and indisputable. The smoker who is a controlled and moderate drinker doesn't leave a bar and take a puff of his cigarette, saying, ''One for the road,'' then drive off and kill three people!

Drinking is socially acceptable. Smoking isn't. Why is that? One day smokers might be able to light up only in their cars or homes, but God forbid we should bring back Prohibition. Is part of it political? There are enough people to support and applaud anti-smoking campaigns, but where are the anti-alcohol advocates? After all, we can't stop serving champagne cocktails, wine and martinis at summit meetings or any other political gathering. That's preposterous, isn't it? We can drink six vodka martinis, buy a gun to kill someone -- having the right to bear arms -- drive our cars over the speed limit on the expressway in poor weather conditions, but smoking can kill you. There's something wrong here.

I am both a smoker and a drinker (only beer) and I consider both habits relaxing and enjoyable. So I'm not suggesting that we ban alcohol. It just irritates me that others victimize smokers with their paranoia and obsessive-compulsive campaigns to ban smoking, yet say little or nothing about the potentially devastating effects of alcohol.

Nonsmokers who wave their hand to ward off smoke from my cigarette -- as they gulp down their sixth Jack Daniels and Coke, and breathe their alcoholic breath in my direction -- annoy me! If they can enjoy their deadly habit, why can't I?

Ian Cameron,
Maywood