Ignoring Risks for Pleasures of Smoking

The second paragraph of “Relishing the Joy of Smoking” (Nov. 5) is telling if not damning: “The effect is wonderful.” Nicotine is a drug, as sure as alcohol is a drug, as sure as caffeine is a drug. While I do not question the enjoyment of a smoker his cigarette any more than I do the drinker’s enjoyment of his quaff of choice, I fiercely protect my right to remain free of the results of his lighting up.

Life without a cigarette would seem empty and scary? Wimps. Give us a break. Life without clean air would seem empty and scary. Deadly, even. It is pathetic for the smoker to not savor solitude, to not face challenges, to not weather life’s sorrows, without sticking a lit cigarette into his face. Is the smoker a less emotional being without smoke? Or are emotions unbearable without smoke? Again, wimps. Is this the origin of the derogatory term “suckers”?

The real tragedy in all this is that smoking-related illnesses are indeed deferred, at least in most cases, to late in life. It then becomes a medical burden on society for which our children or our children’s children shall have to pay. Unlike caffeine or alcohol, smoking involves everyone near or in the same room as the smoker. The least we can demand of such compulsive, addicted behavior is, smoke if you must, but keep it out of my face.

PATRICIA BATATIAN

San Marino

David Lamb reports that a smoker’s being struck by lung cancer or any other tobacco-related illness is “by no means certain.” As the late Joe E. Lewis said when told that the race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, “Maybe not. But that’s the way to bet it.”

BEA SHAW

Toluca Lake

Using the article’s figures of 27 cigarettes per day per smoker, 48 million to 50 million smokers in the U.S., and the U.S. standard of 20 cigarettes per pack results in 64.8 to 67.5 million packs of cigarettes per day sold in the U.S.

The Nov. 4 issue of the New Republic stated “for every pack of cigarettes consumed by a smoker, society saves between 20 and 30 cents.” Based on the minimum number of 64.8 million packs of cigarettes per day smoked and an average of 25 cents per pack net to society, this results in over $16.2 million per day or nearly $6 billion per year in benefit to the U.S. economy.

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves if we really want to give up $6 billion each year. Additionally, perhaps we should encourage smoking.

GEORGE KERSTER

Manhattan Beach