Ed The first US town to ban tobacco?

[Spindrift]

Making things illegal tends to create black market demand, and thus offer.

They aren't making it illegal. It's just they want to make it illegal to sell in that town. There is no prohibition against the possession or use of tobacco products.

 

[Cleon]

No, but...do you think it won't be coming?

No-knock warrants resulting in people being killed? No, probably not.

What will probably happen is the town's smokers (all what, ten of them?) will drive all of two miles to buy smokes from a gas station just outside city limits.

Like what happens with every dry town/county in America.

 

[Dr. Keith]

No-Like what happens with every dry town/county in America.

Yep, living in a dry area actually increased my alcohol consumption. I never missed an opportunity to stock up.

 

[Gallstones]

Quitting takes balls. Excuses for not quitting are a real killer.

Everyone quits one way or another, cold turkey or just becoming cold.

 

[Minoosh]

Hmm ... this would be a great way to boost the local vape shop.

 

[quadraginta]

Contraband tobacco would last for maybe a generation. Then it would disappear.

Right.

If only the Eighteenth Amendment had lasted another ten or twenty years.

 

[quadraginta]

Hmm ... this would be a great way to boost the local vape shop.

'Til they ban that, too.

 

[mgidm86]

link (from OP)

With this action, Westminster’s health board is saying “this doesn’t seem right, that we are permitting products that, if used as directed, 50 percent of people die,” Swedberg said.

I don't believe cigarettes come with instructions, so perhaps people are simply using them incorrectly? "We didn't tell you to smoke 50 per day!"

“This sends a clear message to residents that this is a bad product,” said D.J. Wilson, director of the municipal association’s tobacco control program. He said that a ban may not stop adults from driving to another town to get cigarettes, but may be effective in curbing younger people, who are unable to drive.

Younger people who are unable to drive are also legally unable to purchase tobacco products, so that is not a valid point. But thank you for reminding us "that this is a bad product".

When I was a kid, some students would bring bags of bubble gum to school and sell individual pieces for a nickel. It was a big hit. Supply and demand. I see a business opportunity in the black market.

These addicts will drive to another town and spend their money there, as D.J. Wilson admits.

Here in California, gambling is "illegal". Oh you can gamble at Indian casinos all day if you want, the state just gets next to nothing out of it. All of that potential tax revenue gone - but we don't "condone gambling" as a state I guess, so that's somehow good.

 

[The Greater Fool]

I'm reminded of Cold Turkey.

 

[CORed]

Say hello to contraband.

Actually, the most likely outcome of this legislation, since it is on the town level, will be a brisk business on tobacco sales by stores just outside the city limits.

 

[angrysoba]

Actually, the most likely outcome of this legislation, since it is on the town level, will be a brisk business on tobacco sales by stores just outside the city limits.

And a new pressure group Townsfolk of Westminster Against Tobacco Sales, funded by the very same stores.

 

[Belz...]

But they're not making it illegal. They are making it so you cannot buy it in this town.

Well that is different, but still an incentive for contraband, if only to supply people who don't want to travel to buy cigarettes.

 

[Belz...]

They aren't making it illegal. It's just they want to make it illegal to sell in that town.

That seems like a schizophrenic law, then.

 

[Minoosh]

'Til they ban that, too.

At this point they would have to pry the e-cig from my cold dead hands. Mom offered me a bribe to stop smoking. Vaping proved a virtually *painless* way. I can't emphasize this enough. But then Mom said, "Don't cheat on me!"

I showed her the zero nicotine level symbol and she said ... "Then what's the point?"

I now vape low-dose nicotine and my only complaint is, there is no clear stopping point. With (filtered) cigarettes, unless you want to smoke fiberglass, there is.

 

[Howie Felterbush]

At this point they would have to pry the e-cig from my cold dead hands. Mom offered me a bribe to stop smoking. Vaping proved a virtually *painless* way. I can't emphasize this enough. But then Mom said, "Don't cheat on me!"

I showed her the zero nicotine level symbol and she said ... "Then what's the point?"

I now vape low-dose nicotine and my only complaint is, there is no clear stopping point. With (filtered) cigarettes, unless you want to smoke fiberglass, there is.

You could get one with a toke counter. Take ten or fifteen pulls (or whatever) then set it down for a while.

Setting it down for a while is the hard part.

 

[Spindrift]

link (from OP)



I don't believe cigarettes come with instructions, so perhaps people are simply using them incorrectly? "We didn't tell you to smoke 50 per day!"



Younger people who are unable to drive are also legally unable to purchase tobacco products, so that is not a valid point. But thank you for reminding us "that this is a bad product".

When I was a kid, some students would bring bags of bubble gum to school and sell individual pieces for a nickel. It was a big hit. Supply and demand. I see a business opportunity in the black market.

These addicts will drive to another town and spend their money there, as D.J. Wilson admits.

Here in California, gambling is "illegal". Oh you can gamble at Indian casinos all day if you want, the state just gets next to nothing out of it. All of that potential tax revenue gone - but we don't "condone gambling" as a state I guess, so that's somehow good.

Only 50% of the people using tobacco die? The other 50% live forever?

 

[Minoosh]

You could get one with a toke counter. Take ten or fifteen pulls (or whatever) then set it down for a while.

Setting it down for a while is the hard part.

There are batteries with toke counters, but I prefer that they play a little song at that point (preferably something by Johnny Cash) to give me additional sensory feedback that "smoke break is over."

I wish I were kidding.

ETA: Though if I want this other people must too. I am always behind trends, never before.

 

[Howie Felterbush]

There are batteries with toke counters, but I prefer that they play a little song at that point (preferably something by Johnny Cash) to give me additional sensory feedback that "smoke break is over."

First, I want you to invent this.

Second,

 

[Minoosh]

Someone is already working on this, I promise. I am not a trend-setter.

 

[Noztradamus]

The first US town to ban tobacco? Not Quite

Murricans loves social control

http://www.imszion.com/ims-history/

In keeping to Old Testament law, Zion prohibited tobacco, gaming, doctors, revealing fashions, pork, bottom dwelling fish such as catfish or shrimp, private land ownership, elected officials and alcohol.

Didn't last