Smoking and science

Thoughtful article in this week's Spectator. "It’s four months since the smoking ban was imposed in England," writes Tessa Mayes, "and most smokers I’ve met in that time seem to be quietly adapting. But if many smokers seem to be adapting to the ban, there is still plenty of strong opposition.

"Groups like Forest continue to campaign for the right to smoke. In August a crowd of people including pub entertainers marched through Glastonbury in protest against the ban. Dave West, owner of the HeyJo nightclub in St James’s, London, wants to ‘eyeball the authorities’ by taking the government to court over it."

Few would deny that smoking can be harmful to the health of smokers, says Mayes, but that doesn't mean that smokers should be barred from lighting up in public places. There has been precious little rational argument. Science has been allowed to determine and justify policy, even when the scientific evidence itself is flawed, or wrongly interpreted. Full article HERE.

Comments

[Chas]

There are a few MPs who know the truth. It's a pity that they cannot educate the others.

[TL Reader]

It's interesting to note that this article doesn't show up. They have probably pulled it down or my browser is behaving ASHish!