The smoking debate
Is the governments latest proposals to ban smoking outside public places another example of the ‘nanny state’ taking away the personal freedom of a sector of the community or is it a genuine attempt to improve the health of a nation.
If you are a non-smoker (about 70% of the population) then you might agree with the proposals. If you are a smoker who is trying to quit you might feel that making it more difficult for you to smoke will make it easier for you to give up smoking.
On the other hand if you are a smoker who enjoys smoking and wants to continue without being persecuted you may feel very aggrieved by what you feel is another attack on your personal freedom.
Whichever way you look at it, it always seems to be the individual smoker who is penalised. What about the tobacco companies who make millions by selling what they know to be ’sticks of poison’ across the world? Are they being penalised?
We would be interested to hear your views.
