Lighting up dangerous to more than just smokers' health

The Surgeon General warns that smoking is dangerous to your health.

The Savannah-Chatham police chief warns that smoking in public buildings and business within the city limits — and soon maybe extended to unincorporated Chatham County — is dangerous to your freedom.

Your financial adviser warns that smoking is about to get more dangerous to your wallet.

With all these warnings — to borrow a line from Chief Martin Brody — you’re gonna need a bigger cigarette pack.

Smokers are wheezing heavily these days and not just due to the carcinogens they inhale into their lungs countless times a day. The city of Savannah’s smoking ban — excuse me, the Smokefree Air Act — is a year old now. The Chatham County Commission is expected to consider a similar measure at its meeting Friday.

And as the Georgia General Assembly opens its 2012 session today, a $1 hike in the state cigarette tax is again among potential tax reform measures. The increase will face Alamo-like opposition in the House, but powerful groups have been lobbying for it for five years. The bump has found traction. And remember what ultimately happened at the Alamo.

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em? Only if you’re in a designated area or out in the hinterlands and then only if you can spare a few minutes from working the second job you took to pay for the cigs.

Hide the habit

Granted, the typical smoker deserves about as much sympathy as a Kardashian or a thirsty mosquito.

Their standing as pariahs is self-inflicted.

Many — not all, but many — are inconsiderate. Do they really need to light up before that last bite of dinner reaches their stomach? Can they not figure out how to move upwind from the people around them? Is it that difficult to collect butts and dispose of them properly instead of littering up the beach, sidewalk or park lawn?

Plus, their decision to poison themselves drives up health care costs for all. And the eau de ashtray makes some unpleasant to be around.

Smokers know society is losing patience with them at an Usain Bolt pace. Many are hesitant, even embarrassed, to acknowledge the habit.

“I never thought smoking was sexy or cool, even when society perceived it that way. But it’s still stupid, and I don’t want people to know that I smoke, especially with the way it’s viewed now,” said Melissa, a self-proclaimed “light-smoker” who spoke on condition her last name be withheld.

Yet smoking isn’t the only vice with consequences for the rest of us. Drinking and driving puts us all at risk on the roads and impacts car insurance rates. Alcoholism can damage family and personal relationships. Gluttony and unhealthy eating habits lead to obesity and drive up health insurance premiums.

So should the smoker’s decision to blacken his lungs subsidize an income tax break?

The $1 tax hike would generate approximately $335 million in revenue a year, enough to cut income taxes by 0.13 percent.

Meanwhile, the nico-addict’s personal finances go up in smoke.