Expensive Habits

Six Million Dollar Man

Three Hundred Thousand Dollar Man

Smokers Welcome 364 Days a Year in Adelaide

Adelaide could become the first smoke-free city in the world, under proposed legislation to be debated in state parliament next year. The Tobacco Products Regulation (A Smoke-Free Adelaide) Amendment Bill 2007 would ban smoking in Adelaide for at least one day of the year, with maximum penalties of $200 to go to the Cancer Council. The bill is being put forward by Opposition police spokesman David Ridgway and will be introduced to parliament on February 13 next year. "This legislation would not be about punishment but an opportunity for Adelaide citizens to experience a day without smoking," Ridgway says. "Community involvement is the cornerstone of this bill and in turn, I hope that the whole city will reap the benefits." The bill was released for public comment yesterday.

Smokers in South Australia must feel very put upon. Not content with banning smoking in public transport, offices, pubs, clubs, restaurants, cars with young children and other public places.... now we are to have a token smoking ban throughout the whole city. Don't get me wrong, I am a virulent anti smoker, but this just seems a little too much. I mean some of my work mates smoke, but they don't impose it on me. I can live with that.

Cigarettes Popular in the Stone Age

Harry Clarke has a great summary of cigarette advertising as part of a series of posts on tobacco addiction and impact.

The evolution of advertising is fascinating with early promotion developing a mass market for cigarettes from nothing within 20 years at the turn of the century. The early sales pitch emphasising the development of positive associations, unbridled optimism and sex appeal, rugged Cowboys and cool French Cafes. In the last 20 years we have come full circle with the banning of cigarette advertising, anti smoking adverts and the promotion of tobacco substitutes and quit smoking products. All of this within a Century.

As a non smoker, no bad thing. In the early years of my career, smokers were definitely a larger number, not a majority. Now in my office they are a distinct minority. They have been pushed out of public spaces and marginalised. I just don't like all the cigarette stubs on the ground at the nearest point of exit from a public building. I am happy that the work environment is no longer polluted. Going to visit my boss in Singapore was a fairly unpleasant experience, not just for work reasons.

What is not so good is just as the markets for cigarettes dive in the West, they are increasing dramatically in countries like India and China, major mass markets. I wonder what themes are being used to push the cancer stick onto these populations?