The Nation : Military Smoking Limited

Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger has rejected the idea of banning the sale of cigarettes at military commissaries but ordered the most extensive anti-smoking educational campaign in the Pentagon’s history, officials said. In addition, the secretary has ordered new limits on the locations where smoking will be allowed and prohibited any component of the Defense Department from participating in promotional campaigns sponsored by alcohol and tobacco makers and directed at servicemen. A military study concludes that smoking costs the Pentagon hundreds of millions of dollars for health care. In fiscal 1984 alone, “smoking-related costs” totaled at least $209.9 million, the study said.