[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I have said this many times on here, I have never smoked and will not but they pay vast taxes for their smoking needs and I see no reason at all to stop people smoking in open spaces.
Either have the courage to make buying cigarettes, cigars and tobacco illegal or stop persecuting further those who choose to do so.

Superbly put.

My generation started smoking in the first place because it was the 'social norm' and was deemed 'cool' thanks to massive conditioning via glossy advertising on hoardings, in magazines and newspapers, adverts on TV and in cinemas, and even thanks, in no little part, to most of the top film and TV stars - male AND female - smoking in films and in TV programs.

Various UK Government policy regarding smoking is, and always has been - as you so rightly intimate - disgustingly hypocritical.

It was not that long ago, that pubs and clubs had 'Public Bars', 'Snugs', 'Concert Rooms' AND 'Smoking Rooms' - a system which worked admirably well, with no one who did not smoke being forced to sufferer 'second-hand' smoke and all its undoubted health risks and unpleasantness, yet no smoker was made to feel like a criminal and forced to smoke outside in all weathers.

You are absolutely correct again Joey.