Vices: Smoking, Drinking, and Gambling.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Americans believe that alcohol causes more problems for society than cigarettes do. The proportion that smokes has dropped from more than four in ten in 1944 to 28 percent today. Only a small number of Americans want to ban smoking entirely, though about 40 percent think it should be illegal in all public places. Setting aside areas for smokers appears to be an acceptable compromise. Smokers get far more blame than tobacco companies for the health problems smokers face.

Smoking

 
Question: All things considered, which of the 
following products do you think create 
the most problems in society? 
 
Alcohol                   77% 
Both equally/no opinion   11% 
Cigarettes                12% 
 
Source: The Gallup Organization, 
September 1999. 
 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
Question: Should smoking in all public places ...? 
 
No, not be made illegal             60% 
No opinion                           1% 
Be made completely illegal in all 
  public places                     39% 
 
Source: The Gallup Organization, April 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
Question: Has ...? 
 
Has not                               60% 
Don't know                             1% 
Smoking has been a cause of serious 
  health problems in my family        39% 
 
Source: The Gallup Organization, April 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
Question: Have you, yourself ...? 
 
Smoked any cigarettes 
in the past week 
 
1994   41% 
2001   28 
 
Source: The Gallup Organization, April 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from bar graph. 
Question: What is your opinion regarding smoking in public 
places. Should ...? 
 
                  Hotels and 
                    motels     Workplaces   Restaurants 
 
Set aside areas      66%          58%           52% 
Totally ban          27           38            44 
No restrictions       6            3             4 
 
Source: The Gallup Organization, April 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from bar graph. 
Question: Which of the following statements best 
describes your view of who's to blame ...? 
 
Tobacco companies are completely 
  to blame for the health 
  problems smokers face             6% 
Companies mostly to blame          19 
Equally to blame 
  (volunteered response)           12 
Smokers are mostly to blame        33 
Smokers completely to blame        28 
 
Source: The Gallup Organization, April 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from bar graph. 
Question: Should smoking in this country ...? 
 
No, not be made illegal             84% 
No opinion                           2% 
Be made completely illegal          14% 
 
Source: The Gallup Organization, April 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 

Thirty-six percent of Americans tell pollsters they abstain from drinking any alcoholic beverages. Family problems caused by drinking are up sharply over the last generation. Of those who drink, 26 percent say they sometimes drink more than they should. People find drinking at holiday parties and at parties at home most acceptable. Just a quarter think it is appropriate to drink at a business lunch. ...