Tobacco

[gprsh924]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080207/ap_on_he_me/tobacco_epidemic

NEW YORK - Tobacco use killed 100 million people worldwide in the 20th century and could kill one billion people in the 21st unless governments act now to dramatically reduce it, the World Health Organization said in a report Thursday.
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Governments around the world collect more than $200 billion in tobacco taxes every year but spend less than one fifth of 1 percent of that revenue on tobacco control, it said.

"We hold in our hands the solution to the global tobacco epidemic that threatens the lives of one billion men, women and children during this century," WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said in an introduction to the report.

The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008 calls on all countries to dramatically increase efforts to prevent young people from beginning to smoke, help smokers quit, and protect nonsmokers from exposure to second hand smoke.

It urges governments to adopt six "tobacco control policies" — raise taxes and prices of tobacco; ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; protect people from second hand smoke; warn people about the dangers of tobacco; help those who want to quit smoking; and monitor tobacco use to understand and reverse the epidemic.

"The tobacco epidemic already kills 5.4 million people a year from lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses," Chan said. "Unchecked, that number will increase to more than 8 million a year by 2030."

Chan was launching the report with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, helped fund it.

According to the report, nearly two thirds of the world's smokers live in 10 countries — China, which accounts for nearly 30 percent, India for about 10 percent, Indonesia, Russia, the United States, Japan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Germany and Turkey.

It forecast that more than 80 percent of tobacco-related deaths will be in low- and middle-income countries by 2030.

Tobacco use is growing fastest in low-income countries, the report said, "due to steady population growth coupled with tobacco industry targeting, ensuring that millions of people become fatally addicted each year."

While standard cigarettes are most common, WHO said other types of smoked tobacco are also "lethal," including small hand-rolled cigarettes called bidis which are smoked in India and other Southeast Asian nations, clove and tobacco cigarettes called Kreteks smoked in Indonesia, and tobacco cured with flavorings known as shisha smoked from water pipes.

It warned that "the shift of the tobacco epidemic to the developing world will lead to unprecedented levels of disease and early death in countries where population growth and the potential for increased tobacco use are highest and where health care services are least available."

"In the 20th century, the tobacco epidemic killed 100 million people worldwide," the report said. "Unless urgent action is taken, more than one billion people could be killed by tobacco during this century."

WHO called the rise in tobacco use by younger women "one of the most ominous potential developments of the epidemic's growth."

Only 86 of 193 countries surveyed have recent data on tobacco use for both adults and youths. Seventy-four countries still allow smoking in health care institutions and about the same number allow smoking in schools. And more than half the countries, with two-thirds of the world's population, allow smoking in government offices and workplaces, the report said.

Only two countries — Uruguay and New Zealand — had both comprehensive smoke-free laws and high enforcement, it said.

For the tobacco industry to survive, and keep existing customers hooked and attract new customers, "it spends tens of billions of dollars a year on advertising, promotion and sponsorship," WHO said.

One of the most effective ways to curb tobacco use is to ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, but it said only 20 of 179 countries that responded have complete bans.

While many tobacco users want to quit, they are unable to because of their addiction to nicotine, and "the vast majority of countries" provide no help, the report said. Only nine countries, accounting for 5 percent of the world's population, offer a full range of treatment and at least partial financial subsidies to help people trying to quit, it said.

"Weak health warnings on tobacco packs — or no warnings at all — continue to be the global norm," the report added, noting that only 15 of 176 countries surveyed required picture warnings which are most effective.

[gprsh924]

I personally think the government spending money trying to stop smoking and control tobacco use is a terrible waste of money. We all know that cigarettes are bad for you. Ad campaigns are not going to change anything. If people want to smoke, they are going to, and who are we to tell them to stop. I don't fully buy into the "smoking causes cancer" bit entirely. Sure, smoking probably increases and in some cases causes lung cancer, but there are other things going on. Look at the guys who smoke a pack a day for their whole life and live til 85. Then others never smoke and get lung cancer and die at age 50. Little thing called genetics.

Your thoughts?

[Hugh R]

Governments around the world collect more than $200 billion in tobacco taxes every year but spend less than one fifth of 1 percent of that revenue on tobacco control, it said.

There is the answer to your question if there was a question on the table. No government that taxes tobacco actually wants to eliminate it. If it cost society more in health care costs than they bring in as taxes, governments would raise the taxes again until they were profitable. Besides think of all the Social Security "contributions" the government gets to keep if you die prematurely from smoking.

[dhoward]

Got a light?

[911Rob]

Safety rails, air bags, cross walks, and now tobacco. What's next?

You can't keep taking away all these things that control our population and not expect some repercussions? Sin tax is just more Govt Revenue, you can't expect the Govt to collect money for something and then use it for that, can you? That would be too much like private industry.

What'ya gonna do?

[VincentVega]

If people want to smoke, they are going to, and who are we to tell them to stop.

I'm all for this until I think about how we all pay for health care to treat smokers.

[the]

Nothing wrong with a system of voluntary population reduction.

Yeah, they may add to the healthcare costs, but a smoker who goes out at 60 is still probably going to cost us less than he would have if he not been a smoker and gone out at 85.

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

I'm all for this until I think about how we all pay for health care to treat smokers.

And street racers, motorcyclists, criminals, fat people, midgets, illegals......

Damned smokers...

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Governments around the world collect more than $200 billion in tobacco taxes every year but spend less than one fifth of 1 percent of that revenue on tobacco control, it said.

There is the answer to your question if there was a question on the table. No government that taxes tobacco actually wants to eliminate it. If it cost society more in health care costs than they bring in as taxes, governments would raise the taxes again until they were profitable. Besides think of all the Social Security "contributions" the government gets to keep if you die prematurely from smoking.

True dat!

[Rick Lee]

I am going to have a smoke just before I get on my motorcycle to ride home tonight. Two very enjoyable things. Meanwhile, some angry, trying-to-quit smoker is probably gonna brave the crowds on the train and be miserable for it. I'll take my chances.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Smoking epidemic........hahahahahahaha. As if it's Ebola. Personal responsibility and Darwin. Everyone knows that smoking is linked to cancer. If you CHOOSE to smoke, it's the risk you take.

[911Rob]

[sketchers356]

So how are 10x more people dying in the 21st century than the 20th century. I thought everyone smoked in the 1920s etc. Is our population 10x what it was back then? Or are new cultures taking up the habit?

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by sketchers356

So how are 10x more people dying in the 21st century than the 20th century. I thought everyone smoked in the 1920s etc. Is our population 10x what it was back then? Or are new cultures taking up the habit?

hey knock it off, the WHO has an agenda to promote, quit analyzing the data behind the tale they are telling.

[alf]

I am not ready to give up puffing Dunhill 965 and Nightcap on my pipe anytime soon

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Smoking epidemic........hahahahahahaha. As if it's Ebola. Personal responsibility and Darwin. Everyone knows that smoking is linked to cancer. If you CHOOSE to smoke, it's the risk you take.

No child has ever made the choice to start smoking because it smells good. Kids pick it up because they see the cool hero of a movie having a smoke after he saves the day. They see Rick having a puff before hopping on that cool ass bike and riding off into the sunset. They pick it up because WE tell them it's cool. They keep the habit on their own of course (i'll never deny the pleasures of a smoke break after a hard day-just glad i managed to quit).

Claiming that smoking is a personal choice and is noone elses business is akin to claiming that street racing is the same. It's an unbelievably ignorant stance and shows a total lack of compassion for your fellow man.

What might all that money going to lung cancer research be doing if we didn't have tobacco products in our market? How's about spending a few of those bucks looking for answers to colon cancer, breast cancer, autism, etc?

This topic comes up every so often on PPOT and I never fail to be stunned by the 'screw my neighbor and his kids' attitude that so many show. How some of you can not see the obvious fact that we are passing this curse onto our descendents by our failure to stamp it out is beyond me.

[Rick Lee]

FWIW Berettafan, I make it a point to never smoke around kids and even try to hide it when I pas some on the street. I first picked up a cigarette when I was washing dishes in college in a restaurant that wouldn't let anyone ever take a break unless they smoked. I know that was illegal, but I needed the job and wanted a break now and then. I've never been a heavy smoker, but I enjoy the little I do smoke. Your argument about setting a bad example could go for the far riskier behavior of driving a snazzy sports car or riding a bike. Sure, I never wanted to smoke as a kid when I saw adults doing it. But I sure had Porsche envy when I saw them on the street. And wishing cigarettes away is about as realistic as wishing all guns away. Ain't gonna happen.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I first picked up a cigarette when I was washing dishes in college in a restaurant that wouldn't let anyone ever take a break unless they smoked. I know that was illegal, but I needed the job and wanted a break now and then.

Rick, wasn't trying to pick on you specifically and the fact that you are aware of kids when smoking is pretty darn cool IMO.

BTW, my start was also in the rest. biz. Thank God i got out before i picked up any other habits of rest. lifers.

[gprsh924]

I've seen thousands of cigarette ads, but I've never thought it was cool and started doing it.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I'm generally against smoking but feel the overwhelming govt. intervention and then the hypocrytical tax situation is stupid. Both my parents smoked heavily and I've seen that take it's toll on them. In the end was it smoking that ended up killing my father or the fact he never exercised and was 100lbs overweight most of his adult life?

Moderation and balance in most things is way more important than extreme positions or behaviours on anything. Sure, I love the fact my neighborhood bar is smoke free but think the laws should allow someone to open up a smoking is ok bar if they want. The market should drive that.

A recent study by some researcher in the Netherlands (I think) found that out of 3 populations, HWP non smokers, Obese people and smokers the 1st group will statistically cost more in health care over their life because they live longer and in old age things like alzheimers, etc. are way costlier to "treat" than lung cancer. Living until you're 95 and spending the last 10 of those years on expensive prescriptions, etc. isn't necessarily the way I want to go out. Maybe I'll drive my 911 off a cliff on my 80th birthday or something.