In the Nov. 1 issue of The Daily Collegian, I read with dismay an article describing a new marketing gimmick promoted by a local pizza business. The article stated that the owner of this business will provide delivery of cigarettes with or without a pizza order this fall. I find this to be reprehensible, irresponsible and just plain lacking in good judgment.

Smoking is the No. 1 preventable cause of death in Pennsylvania. In 1990, one in every five deaths -- an estimated 22,702 people -- was related to cigarette smoking. In Centre County alone, 152 deaths were smoking-related. Of the $971 million spent on smoking-related health care costs in Pennsylvania in 1990, Centre County residents spent about $10 million.

This does not include the $2 million lost in wages and productivity, or the 1,904 years of potential life lost due to smoking. For Centre County, the financial loss in future wages and productivity from these premature deaths is $16.5 million. The total economic cost of smoking to Centre County is more than $28 million per year.

Apparently this local pizza business also has not considered the grave personal loss to families and loved ones caused by cancer. But surely anyone can see that marketing cigarettes to customers is a sure-fire way of reducing the number of customers in the long run. As members of the State College community, local business owners need to be more responsible. With thoughtful marketing, businesses can promote both the health and economic well-being of this community.