SMOKING: THE RIGHTS AND THE WRONGS

SMOKING brings with it a host of wholly avoidable illnesses. In spite of
the often conflicting views from the medical experts lined up on either
side of the argument, that is an inescapable, irrefutable fact. It is also
a fact that few people who smoke now dispute; they indulge their habit in
the full knowledge of the risks they run. That is their prerogative and
they must live with the consequences.

It has been the stated policy of this Government and of its predecessors to
discourage people - especially the young - from smoking. To this end they
have taken a number of measures, including the curtailment of tobacco
advertising and regular increases in price, to assist the process.

However, we are now entering a phase in the public debate about smoking
where new and much more punitive methods are being mooted to try to force
people to give up tobacco.

While the attempts may well be advocated from the best of intentions we
would, nevertheless, counsel caution.

The principal cause, currently, of the anti-smoking lobby is to bring in a
legal prohibition of smoking in public places, making lighting-up anywhere
in public - be it a pub, restaurant or even the street - a criminal
offence. This is already the case in parts of the United States,
particularly California, where, perversely, smoking cigarettes is outlawed
but owning lethal weaponry is not.

Smoking may be obnoxious to many people, but criminalising it is no way to
proceed. Smokers know the risks they run and must take the responsibility
for their action. It would be an intolerable infringement of their civil
liberties if they were to be prosecuted for continuing to indulge.

Of course, those who do not smoke and who have no wish to breathe other
people's smoke should be protected. The way forward, surely, is a voluntary
code of practice which enables non-smokers to be guaranteed that their
activities are not intruded upon by the habits of others. Similarly, in
places of public entertainment, special areas should be set aside for those
who wish to smoke. The voluntary way is by far the best option, but it
will take a deal of tolerance from both sides of the argument to enable it
to work. Sadly, it is that tolerance which appears to be the one commodity
that is lacking at present. It is time for mature reflection; this is a
debate that badly needs to lose some heat.