City Drops Bid to Ban Display of Cigarettes
New York Times- October 27, 2013
New York Times- October 27, 2013
2.
Category of Problem/Issue identified in article:
Health/ Legislation
3.
Level of problem/issue: State
4.
This article is concerning an “enacted” policy
that has been passed to help with a problem/issue that individuals/families
face.
5.
This is important to individuals and families
because of the detrimental health risks caused by cigarettes. The marketing of
cigarettes is one of the biggest (if not the number one) reason for the number
of current smokers in the United States.
6.
Mayor Bloomberg of New York has taken huge
strides in order to make the citizens of New York as well as visitors of the
state the healthiest they most possibly can be. A lot of people dog and give him
a hard time for being such a health nut and for infringing on their “freedom”.
I, on the other hand, think that there should be more government officials and
politicians with the same goal as him, though. His ultimate goal with this bill
is to decrease the risk of the major chronic diseases associated with smoking
and why not?! According to Lung.com, 85% of adult smokers started before the
age of 21. This means that out of 100 people, that is 85 people’s lives that
can prevented from a chronic disease and even death. Imagine if this was
nationwide?! Lung cancer is currently the number one cause of mortality among
all cancer patients both men and women.
With that being said, I agree with Mr. Bloomberg on banning the display
of cigarettes. By displaying them, you are exposing these “cancer sticks” to
younger adults who probably wouldn’t buy them if they weren’t visible. “Out of
sight; out of mind” is the best way to describe this situation. Additionally,
from personally living with smokers, I understand the struggle of trying to
quit. It is tremendously easier to successfully stop smoking when you are never
tempted by the sight of cigarettes. My hope is that, one day, New York as well
as other states will become successful in not only increasing the age of cigarette
purchases but as banning them all together.
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