Coffee plantations DO have a negative environmental effect, though. Deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pesticide pollution. Further, the labor consequences aren't rosy either. Farmers sometimes have to sell for less than the cost of production and so they get trapped in a cycle of poverty, and that's just independent farmers. Workers oftentimes don't get paid minimum wage, are forced to work overtime and under deplorable conditions to which they have to bring their children to help reach quotas. And no, coffee will never be attacked the way tobacco is in the United States because it's effects aren't as glaring on the body. I mean, we already know that alcohol isn't exactly the best thing for us and yet the prospect of banning it seems almost ludicrous.