A Ban Too Far

I am not a fan of smoking. I have watched it destroy the lives of too many people. However, I am not an anti-smoking evangelist. In fact, there is a box of 5 rather expensive Cuban cigars in my dining room which I intend work my way through this Christmas.

Though I broadly agree with a ban on smoking in public places, I do think that pubs should have had the option to decide whether they should allow smoking or not. They know what their customers want.

This is a step too far:

THE public are to be told not to smoke in their own homes as part of plans to protect public sector workers from the effect of passive smoking.

The move is the latest part of the Scottish Executive's ban on smoking in public places, which will come into force on 26 March next year.

Ministers have told councils, health boards and social work departments that they should compile a "smokers' map" of Scotland, focusing on those who regularly receive visits from officials and carers. This would identify individual households where a smoker is resident.

The smokers would then be sent letters asking them not to smoke for one hour before a council worker or health worker called round. Public bodies have also been advised to use the smokers' map to ensure that any workers who suffer from breathing problems are kept away from the homes of smokers.

If you choose to ignore this directive will you lose your right to home treatment? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that seems to be the underlying implication.

Filed under: Politics, New Labour Spin