Holyrood committee backs display ban
Monday, September 14, 2009 The Scottish media reports that the Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee will today back the Scottish Executive's proposed ban on tobacco displays. No surprise there. This is the committee I gave evidence to in May when witnesses on the day included Forest, Japan Tobacco International, the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, Scottish Grocers Federation and BII Scotland.
Although, as I reported at the time, it was far less confrontational than previous meetings in Edinburgh (I remember, in particular, a very frosty session in 2004 when I gave evidence to another committee in advance of the public smoking ban), it was clear that the whole thing was still a charade and we were simply going through the motions.
Only one member of the health and sport committee was actively hostile but they didn't need to be. All bar one of the committee were clearly going to support a display ban. You didn't have to be psychic to work that out. The only thing that surprised me was when the SNP's Dr Ian McKee had a pop at the representative from JTI (Japan Tobacco International).
For some reason he couldn't get his head around the fact that JTI offer their customers variations of the same brand (King Size, Superkings, Super Slim etc). McKee seemed to think this was a bit suspicious. I felt like shouting across the table: "You silly little man!"
I wanted to remind him that Kellogg's Special K has umpteen variations including fruit and nut, oats and honey, red berries and many more.
Or what about Cadbury's chocolate bars? Or Ford Fiestas? Even Marmite has more than one variation.
"We're not living in the Soviet fucking Union," I wanted to scream. "This is the UK. We're supposed to be living in a free market economy, or had you forgotten? JTI are offering their customers a choice. No-one is forced to buy Mayfair Superkings or Silk Cut Slims. But if you're a smoker it's nice to have the CHOICE."
I didn't, of course. Perhaps I should have.
Reader Comments (4)
Simon. At that meeting neither ASH Scotland nor Trading Standards Scotland could produce any evidence to support the claim that many children were buying their cigarettes over the counter.
Simon.
I do not know how you can sit through a lot of this rubbish and not lose your temper. There is nothing to be gained by being nice as they always rule in their own favour regardless what you say.
You should go on the attack. Ask these doctors how much so they get paid in cash and benefits from drug companies and for referring their patients for useless nicotine replacement therapy. Show a link and thereby destroy their supposed independance just as your views are disregarded as tainted by these self same hypocrites.
Investigate the backgrounds of these politicians to see if any link with drug companies or anything that would discredit them. They then might stay away from persecuting smokers if they knew they would be in for a bit of persecution themselves.
There is nothing to lose and you might even have some fun.
WHOOOMF!
I believe that was the sound of any future bridges between Forest and the Scottish Parliament being burned at once. Don't forget your marshmallows.
Clearly, the spirit of CALVINISM is rising again in what bodes to become the cheeriest part of our dis-United Kingdom.
Under the heart-warmingly named Doctrine of Total Depravity, we are ALL - owing to the Fall - INCAPABLE of CHOOSING to follow God.
We must therefore count ourselves doubly blessed that HE has sent us Liam Donaldson (whom many wrongly believe to BE God: an understandable error, it's true).
As one of the Maker's Emissaries on Earth, St Liam (as he must presently become) clearly has a sacred mission to TAKE us where none us would WILLINGLY go - a Sunday School that lasts for eternity.
Makes perfect sense, really.
Yes, we've made a good START. But it's ONLY a 'start'. Much has yet to be done........if we TRULY wish to be SAVED.