To the editor:
I am so sick and tired of hearing Baldacci say let’s raise state cigarette excise tax, but most of all I am responding to an anti-smoking article entitled Power of Prevention. Although their statistics were impressive take a look at these statistics.
• In 2001 there were 522 alcohol-related fatalities;
• In 2006 there were 17,970, how does that compare with 2,400 from tobacco-related deaths;
• Alcoholism and drug dependence are America’s no. 1 related-health problem;
• 18 million Americans have alcohol problems and more than 9 million children live with a parent dependent on alcohol;
• One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related heavy drinking contributes to illnesses in each of the top three causes of death — heart disease, cancer, and stroke;
• Amost one half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related;
• 80 percent of high school seniors have used alcohol in comparison to 62 percent have smoked cigarettes;
• Two-thirds of teenagers who drink report they can purchase their own alcoholic beverages;
• It cost $58 billion dollars per year for traffic crashes, violent crimes, burns, drownings, suicide attempts, fatal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisonings and treatment because of youths using alcohol;
• And there is much, much more.
I recently traveled to Florida and paid $25 to $27 per carton for Marlboro’s, a leading brand of cigarettes, in various states as compared to $53 here in Maine. Aren’t we already paying our share and more?
Give us a break, we know that is not good for us, but alcohol is proven to be worse for our children. It’s pathetic that you cannot smoke in a bar, but can drink and then drive home putting everyone on the road at risk. Is it also OK to drive drunk with your children in the car? I would rather be in a car with someone who is smoking than someone whose been drinking. Fourteen states do not prohibit open alcohol containers while driving.
Stop targeting adult smokers with increased taxes to try and support your budget. Taxes and raised budgets should be shared by everyone. Alcohol is the no. 1 cause of fatalities and no. 1 cause of other deaths so why isn’t alcohol taxed to death instead of cigarettes. We can no longer smoke in public, and as a smoker I do agree with that, but to be fair, share the burden of an increased budget with all.
Connie Tibbetts
Garfield Plt.
