Gothamist: NYC Is Smoking Less

ME

Tue, 03 May 2005 21:13:42 -0500

USA sucks ass where is the freedom. I'm 18 and i can't choose if wanna smoke wtf is this. I love smoking i can quit everything else but ill smoke no matter what... it's the shittiest law ever made

Jason

Tue, 25 May 2004 12:32:46 -0500

For one thing, it doesn't change my desire to see him voted out of office in 2005.

Blike Moomberg

Thu, 13 May 2004 12:24:09 -0500

Future headlines: RAPID DECLINE IN OBESITY IN NEW YORK CITY, 2009 This can be achived if Bloomberg: 1. Puts a mandatory tax on all fast-food restaurants, effectively making a Big Mac, fries and Coke cost $8.00 2. Bans all fast-food restaurants that are open past 1AM 3. Puts a limit on the amount of calories any single food item can have 4. Makes the "free refill" illegal 5. 1/4-pound limit on any amount of beef in a single burger 6. Raises taxes on candies, chips and sugary sodas by $1.00 The end result will be good, and will save lives. RAPID DECLINE IN CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY, 2009 This can be achived if Bloomberg: 1. Puts a mandatory 10pm curfew on all children under the age of 18, punishable by fine/imprisonment 2. Puts a mandatory 12am curfew on all young adults between the ages of 18 and 21, punishable by imprisonment 3. Jails all loiterers, on the spot 4. Raises property taxes and fees as to make every neighborhood expensive, causing poorer (and more criminal) residents to leave 5. Makes a 3-drink limit on any customer in a bar 6. Closes bars/clubs at 1AM The end result will be good, and will save lives. RAPID DECLINE IN TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN NEW YORK CITY, 2009 1. Makes it illegal to have sex if you are a teenager (through age 19), punishable by fine and/or jail time 2. Make abortions mandatory for anyone under the age of 19, regardless of whether they want to have it (I'm pro-choice, but this will certainly cut down on pregnancy) The end result will be good, and will save lives. Oh wait, do these measures seem excessive and violate our civil liberties and principles of self responsibility? But they're all for good causes! Hey, at least our clothes don't smell like smoke!

Joclyn

Wed, 12 May 2004 15:08:26 -0500

I made my first cigarette purchase on my 14th birthday. Camel was giving away a very cool, promotional cigarette lighter in specially marked packages. Unfortunately, this kid named Raymond later stole it out of the right side pocket of my Chicago Bulls Starter jacket, and I was forced to buy yet another two packs of cigarettes to get another lighter. it was around then that I became hooked. Turning 18 took the illicit fun out of smoking cigarettes, and I promptly quit and took up drinking 40s of Crazy Horse in my friend Jane's basement. Raising the minimum smoking age to 19 would only increase the length of time middle school smokers will have to smoke before figuring out that it isn't cool once you're allowed. Bloomers should think about this. Hard.

bigj

Wed, 12 May 2004 13:46:13 -0500

I thank Mike every day for that smoking ban. It makes the bars infinitely more pleasurable, and my hang overs less severe. For the tax hike, however, I want to make like an angered she-bear and chase him personally out of the city.

psychotic grammarian

Wed, 12 May 2004 13:39:24 -0500

I don't think one can rue Mr. Bloomberg's name. You can rue the day you voted for him, but you'd likely only curse his name. Cheers.

dave

Wed, 12 May 2004 13:24:07 -0500

According to NPR this morning, they determined those numbers from a phone survey. I believe they interviewed a 1000 people for this survey. As with all surveys, keep in mind that it is a load of crap.

Ruidh

Wed, 12 May 2004 12:56:59 -0500

Smoking should be trated just like alcohol. Only places licensed to sell alcohol should be allowed to sell cigarettes and they should stand to lose their license for selling cigarettes to anyone under 21 just as they do for selling alcohol. I say this as someone who began smoking at 16 and quit just over a year ago.

still smoking

Wed, 12 May 2004 12:43:41 -0500

Exactly...if this survey is based on NYC cigarette sales it is meaningless. I know one person who has quit since 2001 but at least 10 that have stopped purchasing cigarettes in NY and started buying them on the web from places like yes smoke...

Ari

Wed, 12 May 2004 11:51:57 -0500

How do they determine these stats? If it's based on sales, well I haven't bought a pack in NY state for a year. I just wonder how they measure the #'s. I'd love it if someone could clue me in. thanks!

a

Wed, 12 May 2004 11:50:06 -0500

this reminds me of chapelle's skit last night about bloomberg/the smoking ban. hilarious.