Alcohol, Tobacco Are Even Bigger Killers

Too bad that a great victory such as the America’s Cup has been sullied by the syndicate money men, Charles Ward and Malin Burnham, accepting cigarette sponsorship for 1990-91. That puts Dennis Conner and his gallant crew in the unfortunate position of pushing the most dangerous addictive drug in use today.

Yes, Jim Murray, though your heartfelt blast against crack is appreciated, please know that heroin, cocaine, PCP and all other “illegal” drugs put together haven’t been responsible for a fraction of the death, disease, disability and monetary cost to our society caused by cigarette smoking.

Does the America’s Cup really want to be identified with a drug that every surgeon general for years has called “America’s leading preventable cause of death”? I can’t be the only one who hopes that the syndicate will reconsider its hasty move and look for more decent sponsorship.

SARA MERIC

Santa Monica