Editor's Blog Nov 16th 2011
Smoking
Or rather, no smoking; UK news this morning reported that they are about to ban smoking in vehicles: i.e. your car. Now at first this may be a shocker to you, the independent, private, smog inducing free citizen. It is most definitely your car and your body, but I’m guessing your car isn’t a single-seater; maybe you are a parent or a grandparent. What about the health of your passengers I ask.
Smokers in UK are actually much more aware these days than they used to be. They still may hate the ban, BUT as a non-smoker it is good to be in areas that are smoke free, unlike here in Gibraltar where it’s all about the smokers. I was sat outside the Elliott Hotel (sorry O’Callaghan-Elliott) this morning as it was a lovely day, plenty of sunshine, oh and ashtrays for my smoking friend, BUT if we had gone inside, we would have missed the sunshine but there would be no absence of ashtrays as smoking is still allowed indoors and it’s tough on me!
Anyone who says smoking is healthy is talking-turps, and moreover, perhaps his or her smoking will relieve the planet’s gene pool of some unnecessary DNA. However, I do defend their right to smoke hassle-free in areas, where their habit doesn’t affect my choice to be smoke-free. Although should it extend to their cars?
I’m not so sure; I know some parents don’t think twice about their children, their language, diet and stimulation, but on the whole parents are very conscious of their child’s health and I’d like to think that extends to smoking in the family car.
Legislation for me begins where common sense fails; someone once said “rules are for the guidance of the wise and the obeisance of fools”.
Well I believe the fools are in the minority, and for us all to be penalised and have our free will curtailed because of those fools is simply wrong.
It’s the same argument that says “make alcohol more expensive then they won’t buy it and get drunk on the street”. Wrong! I’ll still pay through the nose to drink at home whilst the streets are still full of louts that our police should be banging up and fining. While the government, under the guise of ‘doing something’ just raises revenue.
They already did that with cigarettes and people still smoke!
Ed.
