Smokers, non-smokers debate new laws

[5 Comment(s)]

By Jonathan Specht

As anti-smoking legislation continues to spread across the United States, new proposals are being met with mixed reactions by smokers and non-smokers. While many non-smokers, who assert their right to choose not to be near secondhand smoke, applaud the moves, some smokers are feeling marginalized and say they should be left alone.

“Smoking or Non-Smoking” is a question heard in fewer and fewer restaurants in the United States. Twenty states banned smoking in restaurants in the past two years alone, and few states remain which have no regulations whatsoever. The most recent state to join the national movement was Iowa, which banned smoking in restaurants on April 15.

One recent legislative move that has received national attention was New York states’ increase in the cigarette tax by $1.25 per pack. New York’s tax, at $2.75 per pack, is now the highest in the nation, and with local taxes the price of a pack of cigarettes in New York City is near $9.

Another proposal attracting a great deal of attention was a bill proposed in the Louisiana state legislature by Representative Walker Hines, a Democrat of New Orleans, to raise the state’s smoking age from 18 to 21.

Brooke Stewart, a sophomore kinesiology major, said that what she learned in her kinesiology classes made her more inclined to support anti-smoking efforts.

“We just learned in class today that smoking one pack of cigarettes puts as much stress on your heart as fifty to seventy five extra pounds,” said Stewart. “I’ve always heard that cigarettes can give you cancer, but I’ve learned so many things in my kinesiology classes that just shock me.”

She said, however, that she wasn’t sure what approach state authorities should take towards the issue.

“Maybe more awareness programs about all the problems smoking causes should be created,” said Stewart.

Dana Clay, a medical student and LSU alumna, said that she could see both sides of the issue.

“As a medical student, I know about the dangers of smoking, and I support programs that encourage people to quit smoking or to not start in the first place. That’s what stricter laws do, or at least try to do,” said Clay. “On the other hand, this is America. I generally believe that people should have freedom of choice, even for some things that are harmful to their own bodies, like smoking.”

Margaret McInnis, who is taking a semester off from LSU, said that she paid $10 for a pack of cigarettes on a visit to New York.

“The prejudice against smokers is outrageous,” said McInnis with exasperation. “They treat us like second-class citizens, lepers even.”

“It’s a ham-fisted attempt at shaping human behavior,” continued McInnis. “It would be much more straight-forward of them to simply ban smoking. Of course, that would never work, and there would be angry mobs everywhere.”

Occasional smoker Alex Meyer said that he disagreed with the Louisiana proposal to raise the smoking age.

“Eighteen is a fine age for the law to be kept at,” said Meyer. “At 18, you’re old enough to decide your own path in life. The idea of raising the smoking age to 21 is ridiculous.”

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Originally Published: Issue 605 - April 23, 2008

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