How much is packet of cigarettes where you live?

[Shytownmofo]

Just making a statement?! If anyone ever takes MY cigarette out of MY mouth in that way he/she will regret it deeply. I'm curious what your reaction was?

I lit up a new cigarette and blew the smoke of my first inhalation in her face (I know it's not very nice, but she had me really pissed off )
She took me by suprise the first time, but now I had a face like 'Whatcha gonna do now?' :lol:

That is so awesome. I'm not a smoker, but one thing that I've noticed is that for whatever reason, there's a contingent of non-smokers that think it's okay to treat smokers like garbage. I've seen some people walk up to a smoker, and straight up say, "You stink! I can't even be near you." Talk about rude. I understand some people have allergies to smoke, and, yes, it is unhealthy, but....come on, most smokers I know are very conscientious and will mostly ask if it's ok to smoke in around people or not smoke indoors.

I've never seen anyone rip a cigarette out of anyone else's mouth. That's just beyond.... If I smoked and that happened to me, I'd feed that person a knuckle sandwich.

 

[Missing]

That is so awesome. I'm not a smoker, but one thing that I've noticed is that for whatever reason, there's a contingent of non-smokers that think it's okay to treat smokers like garbage. I've seen some people walk up to a smoker, and straight up say, "You stink! I can't even be near you." Talk about rude. I understand some people have allergies to smoke, and, yes, it is unhealthy, but....come on, most smokers I know are very conscientious and will mostly ask if it's ok to smoke in around people or not smoke indoors.

Very true to what I have seen. I am not a smoker but my mom is. I get pretty mad at all the stuff that smokers now have to go through. They not only have to pay more but get harrassed and are discriminated because they smoke. To most people they have no rights and should be punished and they are supposed to pay more to offset the insurance rates that supposedly go up because of claims from non-smokers and smokers. That isn't right and there are a lot of people who try to cheat the system (like workers comp--even thought they aren't hurt) and hypocrondricates that go to the doctor for every little thing (those office calls add up). I don't think it is fair to blame everything on the smoker, like lung cancer and other cancer. I have known people who never smoked and worked out and still got cancer. And what about babies that have cancer--did you see a cig in their mouth? There is too many factors in today's world that could be the cause of any illness we come down with, the only problem is you can't sue Mother Nature.

A pack around here runs between $3.20 to highest being $4.50. My mom usually gets a carton (10 packs) for $35.

 

[AppleJack]

Just making a statement?! If anyone ever takes MY cigarette out of MY mouth in that way he/she will regret it deeply. I'm curious what your reaction was?

I lit up a new cigarette and blew the smoke of my first inhalation in her face (I know it's not very nice, but she had me really pissed off )
She took me by suprise the first time, but now I had a face like 'Whatcha gonna do now?' :lol:

I can only imagine her expression. :guffaw:

I'm not a smoker, but one thing that I've noticed is that for whatever reason, there's a contingent of non-smokers that think it's okay to treat smokers like garbage.

Fanatics, on either side of any argument, have never been able to make the situation better. Those people are not willing to compromise and that always leads to conflict. So nobody will ever achieve a solution that will be acceptable.

To most people they have no rights and should be punished and they are supposed to pay more to offset the insurance rates that supposedly go up because of claims from non-smokers and smokers.

Overall it is a misconception that smokers costs the health systems more than non-smokers. Though it is a bit of a morbid argument, smokers tend to die younger and quicker than non-smokers. It is a fact that medical costs rise with old age. So in the end those of us who live a healthy life and grow very old will require more health care in their lifetime then the average smoker.

*ponders* Maybe the smokers should get a discount on their health insurance. :lol:

I live in The Netherlands and 4 years ago regulations for smoking started with prohibiting smoking at the workplace. Smoking at work is only allowed in a designated place. I have got no problem with that. Since July 1st (this year) we are not allowed to smoke in places that serve food and/or beverages. To be honest, I'm not really happy with that. It would have been better if those places could decide for themselves if smoking is allowed or not. Clearly I prefer a compromise over an extreme adjustment. Sadly no tolerance there. The leader of the christian-democrats in the European Parliament has said that she strives to make smoking illegal by the year 2025. Bye bye personal freedom.

I'd like to point out that there is nothing wrong with the regulation of where and when to smoke as long it doesn't turn into a witch hunt against smokers. Leave those torches and pitchforks at home!

 

[_Hush_]

Since July 1st (this year) we are not allowed to smoke in places that serve food and/or beverages. To be honest, I'm not really happy with that. It would have been better if those places could decide for themselves if smoking is allowed or not. Clearly I prefer a compromise over an extreme adjustment. Sadly no tolerance there.

Since a little over a year, smoking here has also been banned from restaurants, and any place that serves food. Smoking in bars and such is still permitted. I prefer it this way. Nobody likes having a meal while you have the smell of cigarette smoke around you.
Good thing you can still smoke in bars here. Nothing better then a fresh cold beer (don't say Heineken! ) and a ciggie with it.

I heard something about banning smoking from coffee shops in Holland. How's that gonna work?

 

[AppleJack]

You make me jealous! I'll probably won't go to a bar anymore when it gets cold outside.

About the coffee shops, the recent smoking ban also applies to them. Most of them are too small to create a separate smoking area so a lot of them ignore the ban. If they get caught the first time they get a warning. When caught again they will have to pay a fine (€300,-). I never visit coffee shops but for me this smoking ban, as it is now, is not acceptable. It's too harsh.

 

[dopebabygirl]

well, i think in coffee shops its not allowed to smoke tabacco, but anything else is alloew to, I think you can smok you stuff (but tabacco) in a bong

 

[_Hush_]

You make me jealous! I'll probably won't go to a bar anymore when it gets cold outside.

Lol, you're from the Netherlands, right? Well, if you're ever in Belgium, I'll buy you a beer and we can have a smoke with it.

well, i think in coffee shops its not allowed to smoke tabacco, but anything else is alloew to, I think you can smok you stuff (but tabacco) in a bong

That's a little idiotic, no? I mean, there's always some tobacco in it...

Thank god for the good weather we've been having. It makes a smoking break so much more pleasant

*goes back to books*

 

[dopebabygirl]

well you can 'smoke' it pure as well with that bong thing http://www.shroomery.org/forums/files/08-15/788692282-bong.jpg

at least I saw it on the news when they said that smoking in coffee shops is prohibited. wellI have no idea actually, you never gonnaseemein a coffee shop
netherlands is too far alway from Munich

 

[Wyoming]

Ohhhh this one is SO my cup of tea. That REBEL banner, underneath my post? That's a link to an anti-big-tobacco site, a group that I was a HUUUUGEE part of. Now it isn't anti-tobacco, it's anti-BIG-tobacco, which is advertising towards youths. It's an advocacy group for teens who don't want to see their friends pressured by advertisements from tobacco industries. We are their "replacement smokers".

I've read what you have said about how smokers are discrimiated against, and that it's their choice, they're not doing anything bad....but in fact smoking affects EVERYONE around them. Cigarette butts, although the paper and tobacco are biodegradable, the plastic filters take decades to degrade. Also, the butts can be carried by the wind, into the ocean, and can be ingested by marine life. Small children could also pick them up and put them in thier mouths.

I have an example for you. This might not be the case for every smoker, obviously, and I'm not trying to push my personal agenda, just display facts and evidence that supports my opinion and belief.

In October of last year, Camden, Atlantic, Ocean, and Cumberland counties (REBEL is a strictly NJ group) helped clean up the Atlantic City beach, in an hour and a half, we picked up over six THOUSAND cigarettes, between the twelve of us. I had a little over 400 myself, and that wasn't even close to the amount that we could have picked up if we had been picking them up to clean up the beaches. We would have easily had over one hundred thousand cigarettes to be picked up. Many of them were close to the boards.

The reason I give you this example is because when a person tosses a cigarette haplessly in on the beach, it causes enviornmental problems.

I am proud to say that we sent these facts, and the cigarettes we picked up to the Atlantic City Council, with the goal that they would make casinos 100% smoke free, as opposed to the 75% that they were. Just a few months ago, it was decided that casinos are to have seperate smoking rooms built and in effect by October 10th, 2008. This is a great accomplishment for REBEL, and soon enough there will be a vote for the FDA to be able to control big tobacco's advertisements, which will do great good for REBEL, since big tobacco will not be able to advertise to teenagers ever so subtley.

Again, not pushing my personal agenda, but the facts are, smoking affects everyone around you. I saw it mentioned that someone had a cigarette torn out of their mouths and broken in half? That's not right. It is still a personal choice, no matter what the effects are, that was definitely not the right way to do it. I see no reason to offend a smoker, even if I am so passionately a non-smoker. It's your choice, nothing I will say can deter anyone.

I will say though, that I am extremely angry with the way tobacco companies have it. They support many of the electoral campeigns here in the US, and beause of that, the president will give them whatever they want. Just about a year ago, president Bush (good ol guy) veto'd a bill that would raise cigarette taxes to benefit cancer research. Grantid, taxes on cigarettes are already extremely high, but it's as it should be. The choice affects others, no matter how hard you try to make it not to. I do not have a problem with smokers whatsoever, but I do have a problem with tobacco companies. (BTW, cigarettes in NJ generally go for about $5 a pack)

I am the youth of NJ and I am NOT for sale.

 

[_Hush_]

(NJ = New Jersey?) [/noob]

I don't know what it's like in the States but here it's prohibited to advertise cigarette brands. There was a big fuss about a year ago in Francorchamps (a race track) that certain cars weren't allowed to start because of the Marlboro advertising on the cars.

I think smokers are being annoyed enough already. It's not just the unbelievable high taxes, but also the disturbing pictures on the packs now. Dead babies, a corpse, a man in a coma on a ventilating machine, and my favorite, a young couple in bed who don't look at eachother with the statement: smoking causes impotence

Grantid, taxes on cigarettes are already extremely high, but it's as it should be.

Why? Because it's bad for you?
Then let's raise the taxes on alcohol too, because that's even more harmful. It's such a witch hunt nowadays. I know you only target the tobacco companies but if they can't advertise, prices will go up even more. And my wallet can't handle that.
Question for you: Do you think the amount of smokers will go down if tobacco companies aren't allowed to advertise?



(If that question sounds offensive, it's not meant to be. It's just my curious brain that needs a fix )

 

[Shytownmofo]

See. I have issues with blanket bans on smoking in eating establishments, bars and places like college campuses. To me, that's legislating morality. As a liberal, I'm very much against that. I say, let the individual establishments decide. A lot of people smoke when they're out at the bars, and there's been evidence that the blanket bans hurt business, because then people don't want to go out.

I do like the idea of seperate smoking rooms, though. It gives consumers a choice. They aren't forced by law to not go out, and they don't feel as persecuted. I know several people who smoke who are resentful about the idea of quitting, just because of the way smokers are treated.

As far as the beach thing goes, I'm curious, wyoming. How much other assorted trash did you pick up? Or, if you were specifically going for cigarettes, how much other trash did you see?

I know cigarette butts are problematic, because the filter is not biodegradable, but I see a lot of people be careless with other trash, as well as cigarette butts. Littering is a pet peeve of mine, no matter what it is, bottles, paper, cigarettes, you name it.

Bottom line is, it IS a personal choice, and even though I don't care much for the habit, I still respect others, and most all of the smokers I know are very respectful of others with regards to blowing smoke, lighting up and tosing their used butts.

Props to you, Wyoming for being active and supporting a cause you believe in.

 

[AppleJack]

You make me jealous! I'll probably won't go to a bar anymore when it gets cold outside.

Lol, you're from the Netherlands, right? Well, if you're ever in Belgium, I'll buy you a beer and we can have a smoke with it.

There’s hope for me! I didn’t know it was still allowed to smoke in a bar there!Luckily Belgium is not that far. It’s only a 20 minute drive away.

Wyoming, I appreciate your views on the matter at hand. Of course you have a point in cigarettes harming other people besides the smokers. That is why in my previous posts I said that I understand the need for laws and regulations against smoking in public places. But my opinion is that these laws should be governed by reason and common sense. Why not strive for a solution that enables smokers to smoke and non-smokers to enjoy clean air? All that is required to reach this goal is willingness and understanding from both sides.

Cigarette butts, although the paper and tobacco are biodegradable, the plastic filters take decades to degrade. Also, the butts can be carried by the wind, into the ocean, and can be ingested by marine life. Small children could also pick them up and put them in thier mouths.

I don’t smoke filter cigarettes but handrolled tobacco. The cigarette butts I leave behind are 100% biodegradable. And of course I have the decency to put out my smoke in an ash tray and not into the mouth of a baby seal. :guffaw:

As far as the beach thing goes, I'm curious, wyoming. How much other assorted trash did you pick up? Or, if you were specifically going for cigarettes, how much other trash did you see?

I was thinking the same thing.

I will say though, that I am extremely angry with the way tobacco companies have it. They support many of the electoral campeigns here in the US, and beause of that, the president will give them whatever they want. Just about a year ago, president Bush (good ol guy) veto'd a bill that would raise cigarette taxes to benefit cancer research. Grantid, taxes on cigarettes are already extremely high, but it's as it should be. The choice affects others, no matter how hard you try to make it not to. I do not have a problem with smokers whatsoever, but I do have a problem with tobacco companies. (BTW, cigarettes in NJ generally go for about $5 a pack)

The European Union established a binding directive in 2003 wich forbids tobacco advertising in the press, on the radio and on the internet. It also forbids tobacco sponsorship of cultural and sports events. The member states had until July 31st 2005 to approve the necessary national legislation. Tobacco commercials on tv were already forbidden somewhere in the ninetees.

I also like to point out that in The Netherlands tobacco companies have no influence on the political system like in the US. Influence can’t be bought through campaign funding.

I don't know what it's like in the States but here it's prohibited to advertise cigarette brands. There was a big fuss about a year ago in Francorchamps (a race track) that certain cars weren't allowed to start because of the Marlboro advertising on the cars.

As for advertising in Formula 1 races, I've seen some creative advertising there. Remember when Marlboro was still one of Ferrari's sponsors? They didn't put the name on the car but just their colours (white with two red corners). Benson & Hedges became Buzzing Hornets, West still had their colours on the cars but instead of the brands name they had the drivers name on it. All in the well recognisable brand font and colours.

 

[Wyoming]

Q&A time! :lol:
Q: Why? Because it's bad for you?
No, because it's harder for teenagers to buy cigarettes, the younger you are, the harder it is to have a steady cash flow. I had another reason but of course I don't really remember what it was....

Q: How much other trash did you pick up/see?
Actually, we picked up quite a few cigarette boxes, but I'm being completely honest here, there really wasn't a lot of trash, it was all mainly cigarette butts. There might have been some trash here and there, and certainly some underneath the boards, but other than that, cigarette butts pretty much covered the sand right off of the boards, we sat there while we waited for the others and we were like "well I'm glad we're doing this as a statement and not to actually clean up the beach, it woudl take forever!" ugh I couldn't imagine cleaning up that beach, it would have taken years!!!

In this REBEL group I mentioned, we went to a conference type thing where we stayed in a hotel for 3 days, and there I took a class called "tobacco around the world" I don't remember what country it was, but I remember hearing about how the tobacco industries weren't allowed to use the names on their advertisements, but this brings up another point, one that I've tested with a room filled with 7th and 8th graders in my high school. We put together pictures of things such as the lucky charm dude, Tony the Tiger, and the Pringles dude, then we put a picture of a man on a horse, a camel, and the marlboro symbol up there, and the kids were dead on for all the products, so banning the name of the product doesn't do a thing, that picture of the horse was honestly just a horse, I'd gotten it from googling "cowboy in sunset" but the kids saw it as the marlboro man.

Any more questions? C'mon, I'm really knowlegeable with the whole tobacco issue, bring it! lol I'm always up for a good discussion about tobacco and it's advertisements.

 

[_Hush_]

I took a look at the REBEL site. You said it was mainly against tobacco companies, yet the only thing I see are warnings against smoking because they give you cancer and harms everyone around you. A few questions though:

6 million teenagers alive today will eventually die from tobacco related illnesses.

Says who? And define tobacco related. Is it because they have cancer? Asthma? I'll need some more info on this one.

75% of young people who use tobacco daily report that they use it because "it's really hard to quit."

What kind of a lame excuse is that? You don't smoke because it's hard to quit, you smoke because of your own reasons. Saying you're using because it's hard to quit is an excuse for not trying to. It's weak, and almost a bit of an insult. If you really wanna quit, trust me, you will.

 

[dopebabygirl]

Nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine, and alcohol.

come on comparing nicotine to drugs is so lame, heroin and cocaine those might be really addictive drugs but you can't say its as addictive as nicotine. i hate statements like that - it's nonesense
A smoker can quit right away - if he really wants to - but an addict to herion - have fun with that...

when i drink a few glases of champaign or wine - what does it say - I'm an addict?

1 out of 3 regular teenage smokers will die from smoking.

sure about that? that one person could die of everything

just because someone's a smoker he doesn't have to die from it