[bcc][faked-from][bayes] [Mpls] Re: Smoking Bans, fascism, and illicit drugs

[Chris Johnson]

Jennifer L. Rubenzer wrote:
> As any good Catholic would say...AAAAAAmen! (well, except for the drug
> references)
> 
> Thanks Dan!
> Plymouth Non-smoker,
> Jennifer Rubenzer 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mpls-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:mpls-bounces at mnforum.org] On
> Behalf Of Dan
> "Hey, bars would be safer, and less stinky if they didn't serve that pesky 
> alchohol, too (don't laugh Malaysia just banned alchohol in bars) And, 
> alchohol is way more deadly and destructive than tobacco. Look at the great
> harm done to thousands and thousands of families by alchoholism."
> Dan McGrath
> Longfellow


First to Jennifer:  do not presume to speak for all good Catholics when you 
support Dan's arguments.  My Catholic family happens to disagree with you 100%.

Now to the primary reason I'm posting at all on this subject.  Once again, 
someone is making the completely false and totally inaccurate claim that 
"alcohol is way more deadly and destructive than tobacco."  Sorry, it just is 
not so.  Last time this topic got lots of play, I and others posted numerous 
references which provided tobacco is far more harmful from a death, disease 
and monetary cost perspective than alcohol is.

I'm not going to spend the time to research it all over again and find 
references to prove what I just said, but I suggest any reader who is unsure 
go look through the Issues list archives and find them.

However, just as quick for-instance:  according to the Centers for Disease 
Control, the leading causes for death in 2000 were:

1. Tobacco                     435,500 deaths, 18.1% of total US deaths
2. Poor diet/lack of exercise: 400,000 deaths, 16.6%
3. Alcohol consumption:         85,000 deaths,  3.5%
4. Microbial agents             75,000 deaths
5. Toxic agents                 55,000 deaths
6. Motor vehicle crashes        43,000 deaths
7. Firearms related             29,000 deaths
8. Sexual behaviors             20,000 deaths
9. Illicit drug use             17,000 deaths


Chris Johnson, Fulton