The Smoking Ban

The latest trend in Britain seems to be to make smokers out to be inconsiderate killers. The forthcoming legislation to ban smoking from pubs in England due to come in to force 2007 is an absolute joke! Many people in this country enjoy a smoke with a pint and have done since Christopher Columbus brought tobacco back from the new world. To tell a grown adult they MUST comply with this new law is just another prophesy of George Orwell's book 1984 coming to fruition.

Many smokers are considerate people, for instance if I'm in a restaurant, in somebody's car or house, I wouldn't dream of lighting up a cigarette with out asking if it's ok first; I see this as giving that person a choice, are we smokers not due the same consideration and choice which we give to others? I guess it's just one of those stigmas very cleverly put in place by the government and anti-smoking lobbyists.

On the matter of the ban negative propaganda has been circulated in the media stressing the dangers of smoking and actively making smokers out to be weak and inconsiderate people who don't give a shit if they are harming people with second-hand smoke. I have to say as a grown adult with half-a-brain I am fully aware of the dangers of smoking and I consider those risks when choosing to smoke, I don't think that just because I decide to take the risk that this makes me a weak person. Jumping out of an aeroplane when skydiving can also kill but I don't see any billboards or TV adverts telling me not to do it, why is this?

As far as second-hand smoke affecting other people I don't argue with that fact although measures can be taken to minimise any possible risks to non-smokers without having to take such extreme action as a smoking ban. In most cases adequate ventilation would surely improve things for the non-smoker. People working in pubs behind the bar have been identified as 'at risk' but this does present the question; if you're worried about second-hand smoke why the hell would you take that job in the first place? These people also have a choice. I guess next we'll have to ban cars from garages because car mechanics breathe in the same stuff while testing your cars exhaust emissions during an MOT test.Message to the Anti-Smoking brigade: I smoke, GET OVER IT!!!

Since my last post I have, after much personal struggle become a non-smoker although I would like to make it perfectly clear that my views on the rights and civil liberties of the smoker have not changed; if anything I am able to make my point from the other side of the fence with even more credibility! If you still smoke don't worry about smoking in front of me, I respect your right to smoke and will continue to defend it. My decision was personal to me and so is yours.