Taking Liberties

The war on tobacco just got really dirty. According to Keep Britain Tidy, "we are literally swimming in a sea of cig butts". (Literally? Swimming?) Launching the organisation's biggest ever anti-smoking litter campaign, chief executive Phil Barton says:

"Since the smoking ban was brought in nine months ago, the number of discarded butts on our streets has soared. We applaud the cigarette ban as it has made our pubs and restaurants more pleasant environments to be in. But unfortunately we are now seeing an epidemic of smoking related litter on our streets. The message is clear: dumping fag stubs on the ground is disgusting and people responsible will face fines."

As of today:

• Thirteen councils will issue on-the-spot fines to anyone caught chucking their cig (sic)
• 10,000 posters and banners will go up warning "Dirty Chuckers" of £80 fines. These will appear in bus shelters, phone boxes, pub toilets and lampposts.
• 50,000 beer mats will go to pubs across the land to "highlight the problem"

Says Barton:

"Now is the time for smokers to change the dirty habit which is staining our streets, particularly in town and city centres. Almost half the councils in England have received serious complaints from the public and this is simply not acceptable."

Forest's response:

"We support any responsible campaign that encourages people not to drop litter. But this campaign is grossly offensive and irresponsible. Targeting smokers in such an aggressive fashion will do nothing to help the environment. It is far more likely to alienate smokers who won't appreciate being singled out for special attention.
 
"Keep Britain Tidy say they applaud the smoking ban but complain that the number of discarded butts has soared since it was introduced. They can't have it both ways. The obvious solution is to support an amendment to the legislation that would allow licensed smoking rooms, and encourage local councils to install cigarette bins in the nation's high streets.
 
"Instead, Keep Britain Tidy wants to vilify and insult smokers and create a culture of intolerance. It stinks."

Note: the "Dirty Chuckers" campaign is also backed by the portable ashtray company, Ashcan, and Tesco - something you may care to remember the next time you visit your friendly neighbourhood superstore to buy, er, cigarettes. (And while you're there, check out the number of cig bins on the premises.)