Alcohol vs. Tobacco

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Yes, death and taxes -- two things that are, supposedly, unavoidable. However, I suspect you can get away without paying taxes: don't work or by taxable items.

But that is what this is all about -- taxable items. It's getting to the point where you have to give Uncle Sam a digit -- finger, toe -- just to buy a single cigar (and I'm just referring to the cheap kind). I smoke on occasion; however, I used to smoke three packs of cigarettes a day (that is, until the damn things started kicking my butt). So now it's the occasional cigar. What gets me, though, is the taxes they stamp on tobacco products these days. Yes, tobacco contains carcinogens, nicotine, tar, yada, yada, yada -- things that cause cancer and, eventually, death -- so it's bad for you.

Agreed. But, what about alcohol? Alcohol causes more collateral damage, I believe. Then there is -- let me think a moment -- oh, yeah: fetal alcohol syndrome (smoking can affect the fetus, as well); driving while uder the influence (how many deaths are attributed to nicotine for that? I wonder); both adversely affect the heart. So why doesn't the government start taxing the hell out of alcohol? I'm not trying to debate over which is the biggest/most efficient death-dealer. I know they are both killers and that's enough for me. I just feel that if we are to be subjected to some kind of death tax it should be fairly distributed amongst the agents.

Links for further information.

Medindia.com: 2 Million People may Die Annually from Tobacco-Induced Cancers by 2015
VOANews.com: Alcohol Linked to One in 25 Deaths Worldwide
Medicine and Technology: FDA and tobacco regulation
CDC's Guide to Community Preventive Services: Preventing excessive alcohol use: increasing alcohol taxes