About Us The New York Coalition of Social Smokers

About Us...

The New York Coalition of Social Smokers was founded to protect the rights of
smokers and non-smokers alike. The goal is not to promote smoking but to
preserve the individual's right to choose freely. Our mission is to provide a
forum for those interested in smokers' rights, including those whose businesses
have suffered an economic blow by the smoking ban. It is our hope that this
forum will enable us, as a group, to have a stronger impact on the people who
are creating the laws we live by, thereby creating additional exemptions to, or
the outright repeal of The New York State smoking ban.

The Issue:

Some local governments and employers are taking extreme measures to stop
people from smoking, not only at work or indoor public spaces, but at home,
parks and beaches.

Weyco, a company in Michigan fired four employees because they refused to
quit smoking. The company said it was seeking cost savings but readily
admitted that they had no way of knowing if employee smoking was actually
costing them any money or how much they would save. That same company has
began testing the spouses of employees. Now more than 2 years after
instituting there policy against smokers they say they haven't assessed the
policies impact on health care costs.

Even smoking outdoors has been restricted. In New York City outdoor smoking
seating has been limited to 25%. In California two cities have banned smoking
in public parks and beaches. In Calabasas California, smoking has been
banned on all city streets and sidewalks. Smokers who light up can be charged
with criminally with a misdemeanor.

Will history repeat itself?

In 1920 Prohibition of alcohol was introduced to stop people from drinking and
improve the overall health of Americans. Instead it led to an increase in alcohol
consumption, when prior to prohibition alcohol consumption was declining.
Does this sound familiar?

The absence of legal oversight resulted in illness from poorly made and
ultimately poisonous bootleg liquor. The government lost an estimated 500
million dollars in tax revenue while having to bear the increased costs of
enforcing the new law. Even with these additional expenditures organized crime
flourished and dominated all aspects of our society. The chaos eventually
contributed to the overall financial collapse of the economy known as the Great
Depression. All of this was an unintended consequence by people who thought
they were helping society. With single-minded belief in their cause, the Anti-
Saloon League began a campaign of propaganda and misinformation in the
hopes of saving their movement. In 1920, they released a flier that read: "Banks
instead of saloons are crowded Saturday nights." Presumably depositing all the
money they saved on alcohol. The price of alcohol actually rose dramatically
and the statement was later exposed as a lie. [flier] Viewing the other anti
saloon league flyer's you can see how easy it would be to substitute the word
smoking for drink and see many of the same exaggerations made today about
smoking and second hand smoke. [more fliers] Recently we added some
cartoons and comments from the prohibition era [cartoons & quotes]

After a 40 year campaign to discourage smoking, using tactics previously
considered UN-American, anti tobacco extremists came up with the idea of
banning smoking in public places while dramatically raising cigarette taxes.

No significant health benefits from the smoking ban.

By clicking on the above link, you will be able to read about the health effects of
the smoking ban. They are limited to a reduction, but not an elimination of
scratchy throats, itchy eyes, and runny noses, among non smoking hospitality
workers. We were told that second hand smoke was causing thousands of
deaths and tens of thousands of preventable diseases each year. Despite
more than two years and three reports from the New York State and New York
City health departments, no evidence has been offered to show that the
smoking ban has saved lives, prevented disease or improved the health of the
residents of New York.

Despite the predictions of Anti tobacco
extremists:

America's Health Rankings Report shows that New York State Experienced a
20% per capita increase in health care costs from 2004 to 2005.

New York City released their statistics on the childhood asthma hospitalization
rate. It is now higher than it was in 2003, the year the smoking ban was
instituted.

The National Information Service reports an increase in heart attacks patients
admitted from emergency rooms in New York State.

We are not suggesting the smoking ban caused any of these events, our point
is that we were promised that public health would be improved and health care
costs would decline if indoor smoking was eliminated, theoretical predictions
have failed to materialize in the real world, as they so often do. Especially when
they are made by organizations with political and financial agendas.

Cigarettes are being bootlegged at an alarming rate .

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms has issued warnings that the
proceeds from bootlegged cigarettes are going to organized crime and terrorist
groups. The terrorist groups are using the proceeds to buy weapons to be used
against U.S.Troops.

See: Cigarette Taxes, Black Markets, and Crime
Lessons from New York’s 50-Year Losing Battle

Crimes against smokers who go outside of bars and restaurants to light up has
recently been in the news.

Even though tougher enforcement of cigarette sales to minors haven't reduced
the number of teenage smokers, it could be pushing some to illegal and more
dangerous drugs which have become easier to purchase than tobacco.

Some may say it is too early to tell but history as our guide tells us that the
results will turn out the same. Unfortunately it took 13 years before the
prohibitionist's finally came around to support the repeal of prohibition. Can we
afford the cost to our freedom and way of life

Even putting aside these logical arguments; protecting you from yourself has no
place in a free society. If action is not taken there is a real possibility that the
government will further intrude into our lives. Discussions on food and
appropriate nutrition, further alcohol and tobacco restrictions, mandatory
exercise and candy bar bans. Anywhere a statistician can point to a potential
harm is open for regulation. The only way to protect your freedom of choice is to
take action. Join a group. Write your elected officials and express your views
publicly. Demanding your rights is the only way to preserve them.