Ban Smoking, page-21

Have always considered the push to ban smoking as a middle class attack on the working class. Think of those doing it tough like single mothers at their wits end for whom smoking is a welcome release from the daily grind.

Or my single 93 yo neighbour who took up smoking at 90 saying, "A man's got to have a hobby. I may as well die happy." For him it's his only pleasure in life yet trying to find him a nursing home bed is challenging with most refusing to accommodate his smoking.

However such policies are not only a breach of his human rights but also a breach of nursing home charters which stipulate a suitable area must be provided for smokers. They try to bluff about it but its the law so long as smoking is legal.

As for the old chestnut that smokers are a drain on the health system, last time I checked the revenue from tobacco excise easily outweighs the cost of treating smokers. Indeed, it could be argued that without tobacco revenue hospitals would struggle to provide the equipment and facilities enjoyed by patients.