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Smoking is not the norm

Bigmouth

I AM an ex-smoker and as such you'll probably not take my comments too seriously.

Those people who you see huddled around outside offices puffing away - I was one of them.

But I was always slightly embarrassed about because I knew deep down it was wrong.

So I wonder what the pro-tobacco mob are going to say if plans to ban smoking in all public places ever come to anything.

No doubt they'll bang on about their right to enjoy smoking blah blah.

That's fine. I couldn't agree more. Do what you like.

But the problem with smoking is that it is not just a solitary past-time.

The smoke goes into the air and other people smell and inhale it whether they want to or not.

And the full weight of medical opinion for the past few decades has been that it is bad for you.

So with that in mind it's a wonder that it wasn't banned years ago.

Lets face it, the world is changing, as are opinions.

We are now used to not being able to drive into town centres and park where we like.

These are restrictions of the modern age.

They may be imposed by narrow minded toss pot councilors in town halls up and down the country, but they are still in place.

Frankly, I think there is a far better case for banning smoking than cars.

I gave up when my wife and I had our first child.

I felt really bad about smoking near him and decided that I should give up for him as well as myself.

Smoking is bad for you. We all know that but if you want to do it fine.

But there is no reason to make everyone else put up with as well.

Inhaling smoke is not a natural thing to do and it should not be treated as the norm.

4:24pm Friday 7th November 2003