"Lights" All Over Again or A Safer Cigarette?

[skip0110]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1859508,00.html

From the article:

BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT) is to launch a controversial “safer cigarette” designed to cut the risk of smoking-related diseases such as cancer and heart failure by up to 90%.

....

John Britton, professor of epidemiology at Nottingham University, said: “Anything involving inhaling smoke is unsafe. These new cigarettes could be more like jumping from the 15th floor instead of the 20th: theoretically the risk is less but you still die.”

....

The cigarettes use “trionic” filters with three layers, each of which removes a different set of toxic compounds, while still allowing nicotine — the main addictive element in tobacco — to enter the lungs. The tobacco is also mixed with an inert “chalky” substance to retain more of the toxins in the ash.

BAT also claims to have improved the way it dries tobacco leaves to reduce cancer-causing toxins when burnt.

As a smoker I might as well try this "safer" cigarette. I wonder if it will be sold in the US.

And I'm surprised that they are allowed to make that marketing claim: "90% safer."

 

[ND4SPD]

Bah, it'll still end up killing..

 

[donbenni]

I'd smoke them. I suppose some improve is still improvement.

 

[Lee]

This is totally stupid!!

Think of the little kids that are unsure about smoking, they will now think that they wont die if they smoke!! Friends would also be able to use that for peer pressure, "Oh look it wont kill you it says on the pack go on be cool take a drag..." kinda thing.

Fair enough for people that already smoke but I think this is geiving a false view on the harmful effects of smoking for the younger population..

 

[skip0110]

Just to play devils advocate -- what if (and I know this is a big if) the cigarettes really are 90% safer than regular cigarettes?

Should we allow people to smoke in restaurants, bars, and malls again (not sure of the laws in Britain, but in Boston we can't)? If a cigarette is made less dangerous than alcohol, should ads be allowed back on TV? Thoughts anyone?

 

[MagpieRacer]

Well, depends on if smoke is still produced, its not the fact it kills the smoker, its the factother people dont want to inhale smoke. Wether ins untoxicated or not.

And i bet its expensive.

 

[Lee]

Just to play devils advocate -- what if (and I know this is a big if) the cigarettes really are 90% safer than regular cigarettes?

Should we allow people to smoke in restaurants, bars, and malls again (not sure of the laws in Britain, but in Boston we can't)? If a cigarette is made less dangerous than alcohol, should ads be allowed back on TV? Thoughts anyone?

Im in full support of the smoking ban that took place in Ireland and I want it over here, fast! lol

Why should the people who choose not to smoke still get its effects by passive smoking?

Onto your point, I still think that it should be banned even if it is "90% safer" it dont stop passive smoking and with nicotene still in the smoke people could easially get addicted...

 

[skip0110]

Have you ever met an addicted seccond-hand smoker? Someone who follows around smokers compusively?

I believe that second hand smoke is played up by the media, and while not harmless, you do more harm to your lungs sitting behind a diesel truck.

 

[Lee]

Have you ever met an addicted seccond-hand smoker? Someone who follows around smokers compusively?

I believe that second hand smoke is played up by the media, and while not harmless, you do more harm to your lungs sitting behind a diesel truck.

Ok maybe I went a tad too far with the addicted part but passive smoking is serious, its a fact that if you spent an hour in a car with smokers you are smoking the equilavent of 1 and a half ciggerattes, now think of how many times yo uhave been in a car with a smoke for an hour.

 

[xcsti]

What would be the point of a cigarette being 90% "safer" if it takes ten times as many cigarettes to satisfy the same craving?

 

[Lee]

Well no not really since it still has the nicotene that you drag in...

 

[Kylehnat]

Just to play devils advocate -- what if (and I know this is a big if) the cigarettes really are 90% safer than regular cigarettes?

Should we allow people to smoke in restaurants, bars, and malls again (not sure of the laws in Britain, but in Boston we can't)? If a cigarette is made less dangerous than alcohol, should ads be allowed back on TV? Thoughts anyone?

No, because cigarettes smell awful, regardless of how "safe" they are. And the smoke coming off of the lit end; that is not filtered, so it is just as dangerous to other people as before.

Take "90% safer" with a grain of salt. What exactly are they referring to? What makes these cigarettes 90% safer?

 

[Joey D]

I smoke sorta, I mean maybe a pack every two weeks and thats a maybe. But I smoke cigars more.

I would definatly smoke "safer" cigarettes though if they were introduced.

 

[DJ-CiviC]

This is totally stupid!!

Think of the little kids that are unsure about smoking, they will now think that they wont die if they smoke!! Friends would also be able to use that for peer pressure, "Oh look it wont kill you it says on the pack go on be cool take a drag..." kinda thing.

Fair enough for people that already smoke but I think this is geiving a false view on the harmful effects of smoking for the younger population..

Agree

 

[Omnis]

With a chalky substance, you say?

Alright! Crack-Lights!

 

[kikie]

Well, depends on if smoke is still produced, its not the fact it kills the smoker, its the factother people dont want to inhale smoke. Wether ins untoxicated or not.

👍 👍 👍 👍



Best solution, stop smoking, it is that simple. I never did and I am proud of myself that I never started smoking.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Smoking is stupid anyone that picks it up now needs their brains testing. Smoking kills!!!! Maybe not today.. or tomorrow but in the long run it does yet many people still pick it up. It shows that people cant think ahead into the future but are thinking nstead of tomorrow and the day after.

Id never smoke just for the plain fact that I dont like to spend money.Same reason why I wouldnt do drugs. Second reason is that it kills and it stink.

I dont understand why people start smoking like as if they just wake up on day and think mmmm let me start smoking. And it takes about a packet ot two for you to get addicted so to say that you wanted to see what its like and then got addicted is BS.

 

[Joey D]

I don't see why anyone cares if people smoke, I mean when I smoke it outside of my house. And I will never smoke around anyone who doesn't like it. I know its bad for my health but honestly there are going to be a lot of things that are going to kill me.

I always hate it when someone tell me I shouldn't smoke, they don't have any right to tell me what I should and shouldn't do to my own body. If you don't want to smoke, then that's your choice and I will respect that by not smoking around you (unless you are in a smoking area).

 

[Lee]

I always hate it when someone tell me I shouldn't smoke, they don't have any right to tell me what I should and shouldn't do to my own body. If you don't want to smoke, then that's your choice and I will respect that by not smoking around you (unless you are in a smoking area).

Just like my parents, I respect smokers if they chose to smoke on their own accord, if they gave in to peer pressure however then its a different story.

 

[Young_Warrior]

I agree with you partially except with the what you can or cant do with your body.

Your allowed to smaoke but your not allowed to take crack etc? Is that wrong. Imagine a whole bunch of crackheads running about.

My dads been smoking since like the 70's. We got him to quit and hed be fine for a couple of years and then he starts againg out of the blue and then stops for a couple of years and then starts again for a couple.Hes done that like 3 or 4 times now and im just like whats wrong with you.

Id rather spend the cigarette money on like some ps2 games or something.

 

[kikie]

I also, as a non smoker, hate the smoker who smokes in the present of other people. But we all produce, when we drive cars, exhaust fumes, whom others have to inhale as well. Should we all have to stop driving cars?????
I only want to say to people who smoke, think about non smoking people. Some actually have medical problems, inhaling cigaret smoke, (astma, allergy, ...)

 

[kyle]

As for me, I don't care if others smoke, that's their own decision. I wouldn't smoke though, at least if my circumstances stay the way they are now.

 

[Joey D]

Except comparing drugs and cigarette is stupid. Drugs make you unaware of your surroundings while cigarettes don't. The only I feel after I smoke is a tad less stressed, but I still know whats going on.

 

[Lee]

Future 90% reductions:

Crack: 90% safer
McDonalds: 90% less heart attack inducing salt
Iraq: 90% less fighting
Me: 90% less me


What im trying to get across here is that you can easially say that something is 90% safer BUT that 10% is still gonna hurt you, now, teens will think more of the 90% safer then the 10% just as harmful.

To be honest, I think its just a marketing act.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Agree with bee on that. The way theyre marketing it is like comdons 90% effective. (yeah I know its 98% but im using it as an example.) That leaves people thinking yeah look the chances of us having a bay is practically next to none.

 

[Joey D]

Kids are going to smoke whether the cigarettes are safe or not. So its better to offer a safer cigarette in order to reduce the harm. In fact I don't know to many kids who haven't at least tried a cigarette, even if its one drag. But most of the people I grew up with tried it at least once and most of them hated it, they never did it again.

But like I said kids are going to smoke regaurdless because its so "forbidden" that they want to see what it's all about.

 

[Kylehnat]

Except comparing drugs and cigarette is stupid. Drugs make you unaware of your surroundings while cigarettes don't. The only I feel after I smoke is a tad less stressed, but I still know whats going on.

Drugs do not necessarily make you unaware of your surroundings. Nicotine is a drug; a very highly-addictive one.

Your feeling of less stress is either 1)an effect of the drugs being put into your body or 2)your body responding to receiving a drug which it craves (nicotine addiction).

You still know what's going on after having a cigarette? Great. I still know what is going on around me when I'm completely drunk. Does that mean that there is nothing wrong with putting large amounts of alcohol into my body? What if that alcohol were "90% safer?"

 

[Max Powers]

Nothing pisses me off more than people who whine about my smoking or tell me quit. Now I understand if you complain because you're inhaling my secondhand smoke, but when I have cigarettes, I'm either in my own car, outside, or in somebodys house who allows it.

kylehnat, you seem to be one of those whiney assholes. People who smoke know and understand the hazards of what they do. Not all smokers are stupid either, I know plenty of intelligent people who do it. We all know it's not the best decision to make, but it doesn't help to have non-smokers preaching to you about it constantly. I hate bumper stickers, but if I didn't, I'd probably put this one on my car.

As for the healthier cigarettes, I may give them a try if they were really 90% healthier and not ridiculously priced.

 

[Kylehnat]

When exactly did I call smokers stupid and tell them to quit? I don't care if you smoke in your house, even if I'm there, too. That's your space. If you come over to my house, sit in my car, whatever, I would appreciate it if you didn't smoke, as that is my space, and I'd like to keep it smoke-free. That doesn't mean I will lecture you on the horrors of smoking, it just means I'd like you to respect my space as I respect yours. Furthermore, restaurants, bars, hotels, etc are not your space, and I shouldn't have to be subjected to smoke in those places, either. After all, having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.

Thanks for judging me as a whiney asshole.

 

[Joey D]

Drugs do not necessarily make you unaware of your surroundings. Nicotine is a drug; a very highly-addictive one.

Your feeling of less stress is either 1)an effect of the drugs being put into your body or 2)your body responding to receiving a drug which it craves (nicotine addiction).

You still know what's going on after having a cigarette? Great. I still know what is going on around me when I'm completely drunk. Does that mean that there is nothing wrong with putting large amounts of alcohol into my body? What if that alcohol were "90% safer?"

Alcohol has been proving to make you less effective. I am no different when I'm smoking then when I am not. However, when I drink I'm much different, and you still know whats going on when you're drunk? That's really hard to believe, after one or two beers maybe, but after a long night of drinking you are less effective, its proven.

I realize nicotine is a drug, I'm not stupid. But so is caffine and you are still allowed to drink pop (soda) and coffee aren't you? Nicotine is a legal drug and is legal to use.

Nothing pisses me off more than people who whine about my smoking or tell me quit. Now I understand if you complain because you're inhaling my secondhand smoke, but when I have cigarettes, I'm either in my own car, outside, or in somebodys house who allows it.

Amen to that!

When exactly did I call smokers stupid and tell them to quit? I don't care if you smoke in your house, even if I'm there, too. That's your space. If you come over to my house, sit in my car, whatever, I would appreciate it if you didn't smoke, as that is my space, and I'd like to keep it smoke-free. That doesn't mean I will lecture you on the horrors of smoking, it just means I'd like you to respect my space as I respect yours. Furthermore, restaurants, bars, hotels, etc are not your space, and I shouldn't have to be subjected to smoke in those places, either. After all, having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.

Thanks for judging me as a whiney asshole.

Most smoker will not smoke in someone's house or car that doesn't smoke. I mean thats rude. Hell I don't even smoke in my own house or my own car.

Restaurant, hotels, and especially bars allow smoking in them in many states. Build a bridge and get over it, if you don't want to be around it I suggest you push for legislation to ban it, or find places that don't allow smoking. If I want to smoke at a bar I should be allowed to if the barkeeper allowes it.