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The Unfair and Unfunded Punishment of the Cigarette Companies by the Government
The issue regarding tobacco use is a very controversial issue, which exhibits mixed reactions among different individuals and communities. Governments have enacted various laws and regulations that range from the complete banning of the making and use of tobacco to the establishment of punitive measures on the cigarette industries. I personally feel that all this ado about the curtailing of tobacco use is irrelevant because it mainly infringes on the freedom rights entitled to companies and individuals in any free and democratic country.
Punishing the cigarette companies for the health effects believed to resultants of cigarette smoking is purely unfair. There have scientific researches that indicate that the nicotine levels in the cigarettes are not enough to cause considerable effects in lung cancer or other tobacco related ailments. Research indicates that nicotine is only harmful to the human body if it consumed in relatively high amounts of close to 40 – 60 mg per kg! These levels are way above the normal consumption limits that are taken by smokers. These are opposed to the levels contained in the regular cigarettes produced by tobacco companies, which are in the levels of 40-60mg. This clearly shows that the cigarette companies are not responsible for the poisoning resulting in nicotine related ailments. It goes ahead to show that punishing the cigarette companies because of the ailments is purely unfair.
The punitive measures established by government on the cigarettes are unconstitutional and should be halted. Private institutions and companies do enjoy several privileges and rights when conducting business activities in capitalistic nations. The constitution discourages the government from interfering with the private sector but instead work with them to ensure a healthy working environment. The government has however, neglected this duty but instead engaged in the frustration of all marketing and distributive efforts by the cigarette companies. This has been based on biased information regarding the harmful effects caused by the consumption of cigarettes (Lader, Henningfield, & Jack, 1985).
As Socrates highlighted, all things are beneficial as long as they are in moderate quantities. Nicotine, just like other aspects of the human diet cannot cause harm to the human body to the human body. Just like junk food, cigarette smoking cannot harm unless it is abused. With regard to this, the government ought not to punish the cigarette companies for the citizen’s inability to control themselves. In just the same way the junk food production is not curtailed, the government ought to devise measures and institutions that will teach that impact the citizens with the relevant skills to regulate their cigarette intake. The government ought to invite the cigarette companies to join in these efforts instead of putting up punitive measures to frustrate cigarette production.
The government has put up punitive measures and restrictions on cigarette companies by curtailing all their advertising efforts. Cigarette companies have been forced to indicate in their products damaging messages. The information indicates to the potential consumer on the harmful effects purported to result from taking the cigarette. Such information shows that cigarette smoking will cause certain ailments based on information that is not entirely true. This should stop because it is utterly unfair for such a practice to contitnue.
The government must refund the cigarette companies all their ill gained profits obtained through unfair price increases. The government ought also to refund the taxpayers on all the funds wasted in unfunded in misinformed information regarding the harmful effects perceived to be caused by cigarette smoking. Giving false information is a very serious offense in every state. as argued above and as evidenced by the scientific researches, the government has done a great disservice to its citizens and the cigarette companies by carrying out advertising efforts based on false information. These efforts have brought about the undesired results of having potential consumers from abstaining from purchasing the products to the fears created. It has also led to the undue stigmatization of the cigarette smokers in the society. This goes ahead to show that the government ought to stop punishing the cigarette companies but instead compensate then and the citizens in general.
The government is being unfair in punishing the cigarette companies for the perceived harmful effects brought about by cigarette smoking. The government is in a biased manner by highlighting only one side and neglecting the numerous benefits brought about by nicotine and cigarette smoking. Reliable scientific research including a research by the Spanish Council for Scientific Research indicates that nicotine and cigarette smoking has numerous health benefits to the human body. This is opposes all the information perpetuated by the government. The research indicates that neural maladies like schizophrenia are treated by the steady and moderate consumption of cigarettes. It also evidenced that persons who smoke are less likely to suffer from ulcerative colitis. The effect is however, truncated when the said person discontinues consuming cigarettes. The government has utterly refused to admit such findings but instead delved on the perceived negative effects of smoking cigarettes (Herraiz, & Chaparro , 2005).
From the above arguments, it is plausible to conclude that the government ought to reverse their punitive measures on the cigarette companies and instead compensate the industry for all the damages realized from its misinformation. The government ought to make a public admittance that it has indeed erred by frustrating the efforts of cigarette production and consumption based on false information and incorrect research. This has been perpetrated through undue increments on cigarette tax, curtailing the cigarette advertising efforts and forcing the tobacco companies to pay for undue damages to persons suffering from cancer and other tobacco related ailments believed to be caused by the consumption of cigarettes.
Works cited
Herraiz T, Chaparro C. “Human monoamine oxidase is inhibited by tobacco smoke: beta-carboline alkaloids act as potent and reversible inhibitors”. Spanish Council for Scientific Research, CSIC. 2005. Web. 4 August 4, 2011.
Lader, Malcolm Harold; Henningfield, Jack E.; Martin Jarvis. Nicotine, an old-fashioned addiction. London: Burke Publishing, 1985. Print.
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