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THERESA: Efforts are underway in California to ban teenagers from indoor tanning booths. If a bill now before the Legislature passes, California would be the first state to take such action. According to AP, "backers of the bill, including the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, blame tanning salons for part of 1 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year in the United States. The group cited 7,400 deaths annually from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer."
In related news, the number of smokers has dropped by 100,000 in New York City because of laws enacted to discourage smoking (higher taxes and banning smoking in bars and other public places). "In 2002, tax on cigarettes went from 8 cents a pack to $1.50 a pack; the following year, the city's law banning smoking in bars took effect. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his administration also have supported cessation programs," AP reported this week.
This all begs the question: When it comes to our health, is it the government's job to protect us from ourselves? And, while we're on the subject, do you think there is anything the government can or should do to get Americans to eat healthier and exercise?
YVONNE W:
That's a good question. I like government intervention when it comes to smoking. The less secondhand smoke I'm subjected to the happier I am.
However, I'm afraid the government wants to regulate other areas (i.e. buying prescription drugs cheaper in Canada). I don't think anyone profits from that except special interest groups. I also don't want the government monitoring my personal life.
LAURIE: I think these two items are not the same. Second-hand smoke is harmful, too, so to ban smoking in public places protects people who don't choose to smoke. I support that, just as I support laws that punish drunk drivers. These are behaviors that could harm me without my choosing to participate in them.
Banning teens from tanning booths, on the other hand, seems like governmental intrusion. And also it seems pointless; what's next, teens aren't allowed outside when the sun is shining? They'd probably prefer that anyway, so they can stay inside and play video games.
THERESA: I have somewhat mixed feelings about laws that ban smoking from all public places. As a non-smoker, I love the idea of a world where there is no cigarette smoke anywhere, but I also can choose not to go to any bar or restaurant where patrons are allowed to smoke. If I owned a bar, I'd feel the government was intruding on my rights as a business owner by telling me that I must ban smoking from my establishment. I'd feel more comfortable if the government required bar owners to post signs on their outside windows stating whether they allow smoking, so I'd could make an informed decision to not go inside.
I do think that banning teens from tanning salons has merit for obvious health reasons, though I think parents are the ones who ought to be doing that, not the state.
LAURIE: You're right about the business angle; I, too, would be upset about the government interference. But how many times have you left because a place was too smoky? Maybe it evens out...
JENICE: I like the idea of banning minors from tanning parlors. Everyone knows that often it's the damage you do to your skin early in life that can cause you big problems later. It's the like the alcohol and cigarrette thing.
THERESA: Back to my question about government intervention regarding what we eat-- one move I would support when it comes to health is a ban on junk food from school vending machines. And I'm glad the FDA is requiring trans fats to be listed on food packaging along with other nutritional information. I'd love it if restaurants would post calorie counts on their menus, but I guess I don't think they should be required to do so by law.
I have to say I recently went to a Ruby Tuesday restaurant chain at a local malll and they've begun to list fat, calorie and carb content beside each of their menu selections. It was a total appetite killer. I'd almost rather not know. Even the most benign menu items were outrageously bad for you...
Posted by: April on May 21, 2004 11:25 AMWhich points out that restaurants and food manufacturers ought to be more conscious of providing good food for us to eat. Ignorance is not bliss. I think this is a great idea because we ought to know what's bad for us. Is a restaurant chain that deliberately sells high-fat, high-calorie, high-salt food any better than a cigarette company that pushes smokes? Both can kill you!
The funny thing is that after knowing, you just want to walk out. I think it's horrible marketing unless they plan to add good-for-you items as well.
Posted by: April on May 21, 2004 11:26 AMAnd what better way to force them to do that!
Posted by: Laurie on May 21, 2004 11:26 AMPersonally, I think all of the government's energy should be put into educating and informing people about risks, not building a bubble around them. And then people should take the action they know is right for them. I know, people may not use this information, but we really don't want to live in a world that wraps us all in protective bubbles. And we DO want a world where the government thinks it is its job to inform its people.
And about the soda in schools: I'd rather agitate against that on the local level than have a law. I just don't like so many laws -- I'd rather be treated like an adult who is expected to be responsible for myself and my kid.
I totally agree with Wendy. I don't think the government should be so deeply involved in social engineering and ought to leave many of these choices to us. Parents should decide whether their kids get tans, not legislators. I agree that harmful things like smoking need regulation in places we can't avoid -- such as the workplace, supermarket, etc -- but restaurants ought to be able to decide how to handle this. We're foolishly trying to build a risk-free world and the government is treating us like captives and imbeciles by trying to protect us from our pitiful selves.
I agree, Wendy. I don't we can be protected endlessly from making bad choices -- that would end up restricting personal freedoms -- but we should be given full disclosure of the choices. However, I do think consumers making good eating choices could and should drive food manufacturers to offer is better, healthier food. It's no different, in its way, than putting iodine in salt, Vitamin D in milk and the like -- all of which have had a tremendous impact on Americans' health. And the non-iodized, raw-milk versions are around for those who choose them.
Obesity is such a widespread "disease" in America, I do think steps need to be taken to counteract it.
I wish cities had smoking bans in restaurants. There's nothing worse than trying to enjoy a salad as some bozo at the next table is blowing smoke in your direction. I agree that people should be free to destroy their bodies any way they choose, but they must not be allowed to infringe of the rights of others. But still, I wouldn't mind legislation that protects children from things that harm them until they reach the age of consent. Although there are lots of good moms like Wendy, what about some of the others?
And when kids become teenagers, even the best mom has trouble keeping tabs on them every minute. I gotta say, I'm all for the tanning ban ...
Posted by: Theresa on May 21, 2004 01:07 PMNobody (with the possible exception of my mother) could be more anti-tanning booth than myself. I went a few times years ago and when I found out later what I had unknowingly subjected myself to, I became vehemently opposed to them.
However, I don't think the government should ban teenagers from them. Discourage - yes, ban - no way. Let the parents make that (hopefully informed) decision and enforce it however they choose. That's too much government intrusion for my comfort level.
If the government is that concerned, let them post ultraviolet exposure rates and their risks and post maximum incidences of exposure in a given week and force the tanning salons to comply to the safety standards they seemingly ignore.
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