Smoking bans cause alcohol related accidents?
Jacob Sullum over at Reason has information on a new study that deals with smoking bans:
A new study reported in the Journal of Public Economics finds that smoking bans are associated with increases in alcohol-related traffic deaths. "We observe an increase in fatal accidents involving alcohol following bans on smoking in bars that is not observed in places without bans," the researchers report. They surmise that drinkers respond to bans by driving further to find bars where they're allowed to light up, either because the bars are in a different jurisdiction or because they have outdoor seatingSurely, Sonny Perdue now regrets signing the smoking ban into law in 2005 since he is using neo-prohibitionist talking points while he was fighting off Sunday alcohol sales during this past session.
[UPDATE] There is more on this story over at Fox News.
Comments
How does Sonny Plan to attract people to the state for his "Go Fish" program if he ends up banning cigarettes and beer?
Posted by: Jace Walden | April 8, 2008 08:44 AM
The problem with Sonny's plan is the same as with all other "social engineer" politicians.He wants to look like has/is/will do something that is meaningful for the folks who elected him.
I like the smoking ban as smoke don't stay in one place it drifts into my space but a drunk can be kept in his place,a good solid right hook works everytime.
The problem in our society is that when someone drinks,drives,commits the crime of driving while impaired, runs north on the southbound side of the interstate,kills three people they call it an accident. When in fact it is murder and should be treated as Murder I just as someone driving while drunk should be charged with attempted murder in the first degree. A 22 ounce gun or a 3400 pound car, it is still a crime and just as deadly make no difference which one you use. Why not have DUI offender lives here just as we have Sex Offender lives here sites ? I'll venture to guess that many of the elected who make the laws and the judges who enforce the laws, I said many not all would find themselves on this list.
How many drivers in Ga still operate a motor vehicle even though they have a DUI conviction too many. Kinda like how many people still legally carry a gun even though they have been convicted of murder or attempted murder none that I know of.
So while I don't support Sonny or any other incumbent politician save John Douglas I do like the fact that I have one less day have to dodge the "knee walker" on I 75.
PS
Jace not all of us who fish drink and/or smoke but thats a choice not law.
Don
Posted by: Don | April 8, 2008 10:53 AM
Don,
I know, I was just making a joke. When I go fishing, I typically have no less than 6 beers on hand.
Posted by: Jace Walden | April 8, 2008 12:00 PM
OOPS
you know Jace I should have known that coming from you that it was in jest....I am just having a hard time finding humor in the stupidity that we are all having to live in.
Sorry and I do enjoy your writings.
Don
Posted by: Don | April 9, 2008 10:51 AM
Don,
No worries. If it sounds like I'm blatantly just trying to provoke a reaction, I usually am. And it's almost always in jest.
See my conversation with "BoyReporter" on Peach Pundit for more informaton:
http://www.peachpundit.com/2008/04/09/how-many-more-would-die-if-the-state-controlled-it/#comment-120152
Posted by: Jace Walden | April 9, 2008 11:25 AM