Smokeless tobacco may be on its way out of Major League Baseball parks

[Cigar Cowboy]

Smokeless tobacco may be banned from Dodger Stadium and other Major League ballparks beginning next year, if public health officials and advocacy groups get their way.

Major League Baseball begins the 2011 season in two days, and if public heath officials have their way it will be the last season during which players will be able to chew and spit smokeless tobacco on the field.

The leaders of 15 public health departments in cities with professional baseball teams sent a letter Monday to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and Michael Weiner, executive director of the union representing major league players, urging them to forbid the use of smokeless tobacco products. Tobacco has been banned in baseball’s minor leagues since 1993.

“The use of smokeless tobacco endangers the health of Major League ballplayers and sets a terrible example for the millions of young people who watch baseball at the ballparks and on TV,” the health chiefs wrote.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than400,000 people each year. As cigarette smoking has declined, the tobacco industry has increased its marketing of smokeless products and is spending record sums to promote them. But smokeless tobacco use is itself very dangerous, causing serious diseases of the mouth, including oral cancer. In addition, there is reason to worry that smokeless tobacco use by young persons may serve as a gateway to cigarette smoking, this nation’s leading preventable cause of premature death and disease.

As officials in Major League cities around the country, we know that baseball is important to civic life and that ballplayers are local heroes. They should provide positive role models and not associate themselves with a product that causes disease and death.


Read More: Link

 

[iCraig]

As officials in Major League cities around the country, we know that baseball is important to civic life and that ballplayers are local heroes. They should provide positive role models and not associate themselves with a product that causes disease and death.

Right... cuz A-Rod, Clemens, Bonds, McGuire are all great role models that I'd want my kids to be emulating.

How about the parents in this country be the role models that their kids should look up to want to be more like? Stopping you kid from dipping, smoking, doing drugs, or any other shit that you don't want them to do starts with the parents at home. Parent more and teach your kids right from wrong and help guide them to be the people you want them to be.

 

[Pietastervw]

As much as I am against small regulations by the government if MLB banning it is ok by me, this is their job the employer doesn't want in at the "workplace" its their say.

Edit: my bad its not the MLB thats doing the banning

 

[Cigar Cowboy]

Welcome to The NSA (Nanny States of America). No personal responsibility, no personal freedoms, no decisions to make on your own. It is a Democrat's paradise. They will tell you what you can eat, where you can smoke, how much you must give to which charities and when you can take a crap.

Big Government or Freedom - you cannot have both!

The government is overreaching and intrusive. The government has no right telling people who can chew. The government has no right telling business owners to ban smoking in their establishment. To allow smoking or not to allow smoking should be the business owner's decision and his/hers alone. A health warning posted on the door should do. The Smoke Nazis do not have to walk in any business that allows smoking. That is their right.

Where has freedom gone?

 

[BagfullofPings]

Dipped Cope for 10 years. Stopped Cope and started smoking cigars full time. Didn't even finish your post Michael. I'm tired of the "Pussification of America".

 

[Strickland]

I don't think this will happen. I forget her name, but the dumb-ass Clinton appointed as Surgeon General tried this, too.

 

[pfm721]

I love the term "preventable death." You gotta go somehow. Just let people figure it out on their own.

 

[JNT]

I don't know. I at first was against this, as I hate when the few try to control, and make rules for everyone else, but having kids, I can see the need, as it isn't something I would want them to get into.

I used to chew on occasion when I was a teen. I only started because in the early 90's I loved Mickey Tettleton of the Detroit Tigers. He always had a big chaw in his mouth, and I thought it was bad ass, and he could destroy a baseball (when he connected). Thank god I would always get sick from it, and gave up after awhile. I would have never tried otherwise.

I'm kinda 50/50 cause I hate all this control on decisions an adult should be able to make for themselves without getting taxed out the ass, or treated like a heathen.

 

[Bad Finger]

I agree that chewing is a personal choice.


It is also a choice that if I step in your pile of chaw spit, or kick over your forgotten spitter, it may lead to fisticuffs.

As in, I'll pour it over your head and over a consoling overhand right to make up for it.

I have no problems with the chewing, its irresponsible spitters I have the problem with.

 

[Greg]

Republicans want to force all people to chew Skoal, especially, your kids.

Now, who wants Michael and his family over for dinner? :grin: