I suppose you could make an argument about fitness and combat readiness, and I certainly think smoking is both a stupid and harmful habit that everyone who does it would be much better off if they didn't.
That said, I don't think it's particularly fair or reasonable to restrict acting service personnel from buying smokes on base or on board ships if those products are available to civilians. Don't provide them in the PX at a discount, certainly, or even consider a surcharge to fully fund smoking cessation programs and the like — but service members already sacrifice a lot, and don't need people removing an apparent pleasure from their lives, even for their own good.
Originally shared by +David Badash:
GOP Congressman Would Rather Soldiers Fight Than Switch – To Being Non-Smokers
Congress and the Defense Department are considering banning the sale of tobacco products on military bases and ships in an effort to stop high smoking rates in the military. That sounds like a reasonable law that everyone can get behind, right?
