Military’s cheap cigarettes days are over. The defense spending bill unveiled by the Senate this week put an end to Military officials and their family members having access to cheap cigarettes. Senators say having a smoke-free military will save the government at least one billion dollars every year and it also means healthier soldiers.
No more cheap cigarettes for the military. The Senate stated that it has decided to eliminate the 25 percent discount on tobacco goods such as loose leaves, cigars, e-cigarettes that military personals and their relatives have benefited from for several years now.
The Chairman of The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee Richard J. Durbin unveiled the approved $549.3 billion defense spending bill on Tuesday that is aiming for a smoke-free military.
Richard J. Durbin, a senior Democrat from Illinois issued a statement explaining that the decision to push for a tobacco-free military is because of the cost of tobacco discounts and the side effects of tobacco on service men’s healths.
The Senate Majority Whip said that the Obama administration is spending $1.6 billion per year on health care for military personnel with tobacco related illnesses.
The head of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government could have cited a study that was published in 2009 by the Institute of Medicine to back his claims.
The research showed that if military personals are banned from smoking they would be healthier and therefore be more alert and have more readiness in war zones.
Soldiers who are non-smokers are less stressed which implies that they can make wiser decisions when faced with life and death situations.
The scientists behind the study asked a valid question, if people in the military are required to pass physical examinations, why are they allowed to smoke and cause damage to their healths.
Everything in Washington is a fight, so it is not surprising that the House version of the bill is against the crackdown of untaxed tobacco products.
House representatives believe smoking is one of the few leisure soldiers have on the battle field and it should remain that way.
