Public Health Proposal Considers Mandatory ‘Smokers License’

[dput]

We have an out of control government that is not going to stop until every bit of freedom, liberty, and prosperity have been ripped away. This is the result of big government! Will this include e-cigs?

I love the part where they say this would discourage young people from picking up the habit. No it won't. It will create a bigger black market!

Public Health Proposal Considers Mandatory ‘Smokers License’ « CBS DC

 

[Vocalek]

The university I went to did not include ages or birth dates on Student IDs, and many students did not drive. So the town came up with the concept of an city-issued ID card that could be used for proof of age when going into a bar. Of course, everyone called it a drinking license.

The licensing scheme did not discourage any students from drinking.

 

[Bill Godshall]

E-cigarette and snus prohibitionist Simon Chapman proposes government licensing and testing of smokers (with high licensing fees charged to smokers), and limiting their cigarette supply.
PLOS Medicine: The Case for a Smoker's License (full text of Simon's absurd proposal)
BBC News - Should you need a licence to smoke?
License To Smoke? Cigarette Permit Under Consideration - IBTimes UK
A smoker's license: Too radical for tobacco control?

Jeff Collin: The Case against a Smoker's License
PLOS Medicine: The Case against a Smoker's License (full text of Jeff's milktoast critique of Simon's proposal)

The Mad Mind of Zealots
http://nannyingtyrants.blogspot.com/2012/11/mad-minds.html (a more cogent critique of Simon and his extremism)

Please note that Simon is from way down under in Australia, where the government has already stripped its citizenry of many civil liberties.

 

[DC2]

I'd like to run into this guy in a dark alley, and give him a chance to argue his side for a few seconds.

 

[Bill Godshall]

ACSH: Another bad idea about smoking
Another bad idea about smoking - ACSH

I agree with Gil's comment, while Josh Bloom's comment unfairly and inaccurately attributes Simon's stupidity to ....

 

[Vocalek]

When designing the solution to a problem, it is important to fully understand the causes of the problem. If the cause of the problem is not a lack of skills or information, an educational solution will never work. Since the cause of the “smokers can’t or won’t quit” problem is the fact that nicotine has beneficial effects that smokers don’t want to give up, the only sensible solution is to offer smokers low-risk alternative delivery mechanisms for their nicotine.

 

[Vocalek]

Bill: Do you have a link to Josh Bloom's comment? I could not find it in the links you listed.

 

[VapApe]

When designing the solution to a problem, it is important to fully understand the causes of the problem. If the cause of the problem is not a lack of skills or information, an educational solution will never work. Since the cause of the “smokers can’t or won’t quit” problem is the fact that nicotine has beneficial effects that smokers don’t want to give up, the only sensible solution is to offer smokers low-risk alternative delivery mechanisms for their nicotine.

Yes but when your only tool is a hammer (quit or die) Then all of your problems look like nails.
And as long as BP is buying the tools, I don't see them adding any thing new in their tool box.

Money hungry and power drunk is a very bad combination.

 

[JerryRM]

Yes but when your only tool is a hammer (quit or die) Then all of your problems look like nails.
And as long as BP is buying the tools, I don't see them adding any thing new in their tool box.

Money hungry and power drunk is a very bad combination.

Yes, they are a bad combination. Unfortunately, in many cases they go hand in hand.

 

[pianoguy]

Bill: Do you have a link to Josh Bloom's comment? I could not find it in the links you listed.

It was in the last paragraph of the article.