Fast Food vs Cigarettes

Rain · Post by **Rain** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:38 pm

While watching some Roadside Diner/Dive show on the food channel the other night, my husband and I wondered about the similarities between these "coronary waiting to happen" dives, and cigarettes.

These roadside diners were serving HUGE amounts of "greasy-spoon" type foods. The patrons for the most part were 30-ish men who were just plain fat. So, here was my thought,

What's the difference between these greasy spoons and cigarette compaines? They both can kill you.

People sue and have won huge settlements against these cigarette companies for "killing Grandpa" due to his addiction to tobacco. So, if a 30 year old man goes everyday (which many of the men in the tv show admitted to doing) to these greasy spoons and dies at the ripe old age of 50 (ahem) due to a heart attack, do we then sue the Diner owner? Where's the line here?

Cigarettes are addicting. Food is not. Though we have to eat to live.

And what about alcohol? There have been lawsuits against bar owners for serving people who are plainly intoxicated, after these go out and kill themselves (or others) due to being crap-faced.

Is it all about choice vs addiction?

Thoughts?

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:54 pm

I'm all for adults taking responsibility for themselves, their actions, and their children - instead of always blaming someone else for their own gluttony, bad choices or lack of self control.

Rain · Post by **Rain** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:19 am

So then, how is it ppl sue and are awarded tons of $$ from the tobacco companies? They have actually proved that the tobacco company is at fault.

So... what about the greasy spoons? You should've seen these platters filled with greasy bugers so tall and sloppy that you can't even get your mouth around them, and on top of the burger was a crap load of fat fries dripping with cheese sauce. Who's at fault? Does the family have a right to sue the diner if daddy eats there everyday and then dies of a heart attack?

As with cigarettes, it's a choice. But what about the bar situation I mentioned? Bartenders have been brought to accountability. Is the diner responsible?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:26 am

Cigarettes kill nonsmokers as well. A chili cheeseburger hasn't been known to do that so far.

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:01 am

RedGlitter;460875 wrote: Cigarettes kill nonsmokers as well. A chili cheeseburger hasn't been known to do that so far.

er red i think if i ate a curry half an hour later it could possibly kill some one

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:43 am

:wah:

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:12 am

Rain;460844 wrote: People sue and have won huge settlements against these cigarette companies for "killing Grandpa" due to his addiction to tobacco. So, if a 30 year old man goes everyday (which many of the men in the tv show admitted to doing) to these greasy spoons and dies at the ripe old age of 50 (ahem) due to a heart attack, do we then sue the Diner owner? Where's the line here?

choice vs addiction?

Thoughts?

Haven't people *already* sued "fast food" retailers?

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:32 am

Pinky;460908 wrote: LMAO jimbo!!!!

Yup, ciggies can kill non-smokers too, but so can the high amount of carbon monoxide in the air from traffic pollution in most cities these days. Same cause...so, should we ban all the 4 litre engine 4x4's that people don't really need? You don't need something that chugs out that much guff into the air just to get the kids to school or to do a bit of shopping...

Bearing in mind most public places (in the UK at any rate) are non-smoking, which is the higher risk these days?

pinks if you go out on the broom after a night on the town does your broom emmisions go up :sneaky:

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:42 am

Pinky;461372 wrote: Only if I've had chicken:D

guppy writing down in her notebook-dont ride with pinky on her broom after she's had chicken.........:p

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:46 am

Pinky;461377 wrote: At least ya don't want to be on the back, haha!!!:wah:

modifying note. insist i ride in front:D

Rain · Post by **Rain** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:25 pm

ITA. Responsibility of ones actions would be a wonderful thing. But... we've all seen this on a daily basis, Common Sense has flown out the window!

I hadn't heard of someone suing a greasy spoon over someones health. I did see a hugely fat mother griping on TV a couple years ago about her pre-teen daughter contracting diabetes due to her weight and her junk food diet. Ppl were outraged. They said... "Look at the mother!" and "Well, Who's buying the food?". Don't know whatever became of that.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:44 am

Pinky;462071 wrote: I just heard o the radio that OFCOM are thinking about restricting fast food / junk food ads to after 9pm, due to the influence that advertising has on youngsters.

They've actually done it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... unk117.xml

Apparently, "the measures still do not go far enough for many health

campaigners, who have been calling for a blanket ban on junk food

advertising before the 9pm watershed". Humph. Why not ban the

advertising of this stuff *completely*.

Rain · Post by **Rain** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:56 pm

Nobody I know.

I saw on 20/20 last night a "Give me a Break" segment about a greasy spoon dive in AZ. where the waitresses dress in nurses uniforms and the owner wears a white smock and hangs a stethoscope around his neck. Though the segment was actually about nurses being offended, I did see a sign in the window saying that the "food being served may be harmful to your health". The place is named the Heart Attack Grill. Well, at least they have a disclaimer. lol :sneaky:

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:53 am

Rain;463611 wrote: Nobody I know.

I saw on 20/20 last night a "Give me a Break" segment about a greasy spoon dive in AZ. where the waitresses dress in nurses uniforms and the owner wears a white smock and hangs a stethoscope around his neck. Though the segment was actually about nurses being offended, I did see a sign in the window saying that the "food being served may be harmful to your health". The place is named the Heart Attack Grill. Well, at least they have a disclaimer. lol :sneaky:

www.heartattackgrill.com

Get a load of that hamburger.

Rain · Post by **Rain** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:38 pm

Excluding the heart attack part, think of how small the human stomach actually is. It amazes me to see ppl even eating a whole foot long Subway sandwich! I told that to a VERY obese friend of mine once and she said.... "That's why you chew it up, to make it smaller." Yep, we chew, but you're still putting all that food in that tiny space. It has nowhere else to go except into your Ass and into your arteries. HELLO!!!

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:12 pm

Not being a smoker, I am definatly a fast food junkie. I do not over indulge, though. But I do enjoy it, on occasion.