What does everyone think about the idea of banning tobacco use in the military?

2014-03-31T18:22:40-04:00

I have both smoked and dipped throughout my almost nine years in. I have quit smoking for personal reasons but have no bad thoughts about people that still do. I do dip though not often and other than hating spit bottles being left around I don't really care who does or doesn't. Just curious on other people thoughts

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 6:34 PM

2014-03-31T18:34:25-04:00

Good luck dealing with all the grunts going through nicotine withdrawal.

In all seriousness, I'd be OK with a tobacco ban though I doubt it'll happen in the near future. Dipping and smoking has adverse affects on the human body, and considering how much money the govt puts into the training and upkeep of a service member I'd understand them cracking down on a practice that is harmful.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 2:06 PM

2014-04-01T14:06:43-04:00

I think you'd have a lot of disgruntled enlisted soldiers on your hands.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 2:11 PM

2014-04-01T14:11:09-04:00

I've been dipping for 20 years and it has no effect on my job performance, leadership skills or APFT. I should quit, I know this, but that should be up to me.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Apr 1 at 2014 2:30 PM

2014-04-01T14:30:05-04:00

I smoked for about 10 years until switching to e-cigs a couple months back. I would not like a ban, but I can see benefits to it.

So long as ample accommodation was made for cessation, and the ban only applied on duty/in uniform/on installation, it could work.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 10:25 PM

2014-04-01T22:25:31-04:00

I don't think its a good idea simply because i myself smoke and dip and honestly its one of the few things that keeps me from biting someones head off. Besides that we are all adults and its our choice to smoke or dip and i dont think that should be taking away from us as long as you maintain pt i dont see a reason to ban it

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 1 at 2014 10:50 PM

2014-04-01T22:50:05-04:00

Great Goal on and Indiviual and Group Level and the military is making great progress, When I joined they just about issued you ciggys. Took me a long time to quit but I have been clean for 17 years now.

Response by SPC Dave St.Andrew made Oct 12 at 2014 7:41 PM

2014-10-12T19:41:03-04:00

We are grown men, with the ability to make our own choices, why should we be told we can't use tobacco? Because non-tobacco users want us to?

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 6:25 PM

2014-11-19T18:25:59-05:00

Don't do tobacco at all... But when I was a lower enlisted Soldier. I hated tobacco users.?In the middle of a detail like loading connexs. They would decide to take a smoke break. So much work could've been done sooner than later. Banned? I wish... But that's not happening. Just wish that those that hold those important positions take their smoke break when they can... Not when you have S-1 shop full of people trying to get things done.

Response by MSgt Mike Ash made Feb 2 at 2015 12:47 PM

2015-02-02T12:47:38-05:00

Smoking is legal (well, pseudo-legal with our gutless politicians, who will ban smokers from bars and every public building in a city or state, yet don't have the intestinal fortitude to take on the subject of outlawing tobacco - yes, I know, tax/tax/tax!!!), as long as it is - why would you outlaw it in the military? Yes, I know it's bad, causes all kinds of bad stuff and could be the downfall of western civilization - however, the military is not a social experiment to rid the world of bad habits or ban those things we feel are untenable. What's next, alcohol? Diet soda? FYI - I don't smoke, never have, never liked it, my dad died from esphogeal cancer from 60 years of puffing - but far more incidious than cigarettes are those nanny states.

Response by CH (LTC) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2018 9:13 PM

2018-12-13T21:13:02-05:00

ALCON: see: http://www.tobaccoharmreduction.org/faq/healtheffectsofst.htm
There is a TON of evidence that smoking is a major health hazard but NO evidence that smokeless tobacco is a hazard at all. In fact, it has been shown scientifically that if you are a smoker and have a nicotine addiction, switching to smokeless tobacco is a much safer alternative. The carcinogenic factor in tobacco (like most anything else) gets fired up, quite literally, when the tobacco gets fired up, that is when it's burned. The carcinogenic factor is tobacco smoke (with its high content of carbon monoxide--just like any kind of smoke is carcinogenic). The carcinogenic factor in smokeless tobacco is about the same as found in broccoli, or ANY other plant that you stick in your mouth and spit out. I surely hope that the Army figures this out and gets rid of the smokeless tobacco prohibitions in AR 600-63. They are clearly relying on popular opinion here. Using smokeless tobacco is a very safe and effective means of quitting smoking. See the attachment for a start, but do your own research instead of letting the Army do it for you.

FAQ: Health Effects (tobaccoharmreduction.org)

Contrary to popular belief, smokeless tobacco is not a major health hazard. In fact, it has not been definitively linked to any deadly disease. More important, to the extent that it causes any risks, the scientific evidence clearly shows that the risks are very small (See Lee & Hamling 2009).