"Smoke-free" England?
“A smoke-free country will improve the health of thousands of people, reduce the temptation to smoke and encourage smokers to quit.”
- Alan Johnson, Health Secretary
A plethora of “No Smoking” signs have now gone up across England, outside all “enclosed public spaces”. But England is not going to be “smoke-free,” like Alan Johnson claims, unless somehow smoking was made illegal without any of us noticing. The ban, now in place [since 6am this morning], only exists in enclosed public spaces. There is no provision or legal standing for the prevention of smoking in other places. However, this hasn’t of course stopped some councils, who have unilaterally decided to extend the ban to playgrounds and parks. This is, however, not legally enforceable. Councils do not have the ability or right to prevent people smoking there.
Smoking is only illegal inside - not outside. Thus England certainly won’t be “smoke-free” - the smokers will simply all move outside. What it will mean is that doorways and beer gardens become pretty much the preserve of smokers. Whilst some smokers will kick the habit due to the law and a disgusting attempt to get children to morally blackmail their parents, I very much doubt that the vast majority will.
This sort of authoritarian ban will not make England “smoke-free” at all. Instead, it will simply persecute a minority for having a legitimate habit - quite disgusting, yes, but legitimate. And that is simply wrong. If you want a “smoke-free country” then make smoking illegal, Alan Johnson. Actually bite the bullet. We all know that that is what you and Labour want to do.
Sources: BBC, The Times, The Telegraph
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If people want to damage their own bodies thats fine, but why should they damage mine, So to the ignorant smokers who puff toxic fumes in front of my children and pregnant partner, the drunk who wants to kill their father, the pissed driver who wants to kill us all I welcome the day that both smoking and drinking are completely banned from our shores, I am sick of the fact that I have become a social outcast for not drinking or smoking, the fact that I want to see my children grow up healthy with a father still alive when they are 21 doesnt seem to matter to smokers and the increasing number of alcholics everywhere.