U.S. tobacco bill may pass despite cigarette lobby and pigs with lipstick ads

William Atkins
Thursday, 04 June 2009 19:21

Opinion and Analysis

Here are the next three organizations commenting on "Cigarette Health"

3. Chicago Tribune: "It took decades of scientific and political battles before cigarette makers would admit the obvious: Cigarettes kill people. Warnings about the dangers of smoking are now plain on every pack sold in America. It took years of brawling in statehouses before tough anti-smoking laws exiled smokers to the sidewalks. Now, there's another fight -- no, another chance -- to stop kids from starting this lethal habit and to help adults quit. The U.S. House has voted overwhelmingly to allow the federal Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco, much as it oversees prescription drugs. That's a smart move."

4. eMedicineHealth.com: “Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of death and illness among Americans. Every year, roughly 430,000 Americans die from illnesses caused by tobacco use, accounting for one fifth of all deaths. Tobacco use costs the nation about $100 billion each year in direct medical expense and lost productivity.”

[A Chinese website and the TradeKey website were both selling tobacco related products.]

5. National Cancer Instsitute: “Many smokers choose “low-tar,” “mild,” “light,” or “ultra-light” cigarettes because they think that these cigarettes may be less harmful to their health than “regular” or “full-flavor” cigarettes. Although smoke from light cigarettes may feel smoother and lighter on the throat and chest, light cigarettes are not healthier than regular cigarettes. The truth is that light cigarettes do not reduce the health risks of smoking. The only way to reduce a smoker’s risk, and the risk to others, is to stop smoking completely.”

Unfortunately for the tobacco industry they are losing customers in industrialized countries because people are finally getting the point that cigarettes and tobacco products are bad for your health and will kill you prematurely.

But, the tobacco industry has plenty of other countries that are now just being introduced to cigarettes and tobacco. They can sell these people their products just as they did in the past in the United States and other countries.

Just remember, these tobacco companies do not care about you. They only care about making money off their products. Cigarettes will never be safe. However, if the U.S. government (and other health conscious countries) can educate its citizens to the dangers of tobacco, then it has accomplished a very important task.

The new bill, hopefully to be passed by the U.S. Senate, authorizing the FDA to regulate the tobacco industry is a big step in the right direction.

In the end, it’s your choice. Make a wise one. Smoking may look cool when placed in advertisements, but even a pig with lipstick can be made to look appealing by the right advertising company.