Make tobacco illegal – or pipe down about it

Thursday 1st April 2010, 3:00PM BST.

From Colin Clarke.
I READ with interest the report of the news conference covering the Royal College of Physicians’ assertion that smoking should be banned in cars, as it is a contributory factor to the increase in asthma among children, and is also dangerous and distracting while driving.

I was given to understand that smoking was on the decline, so I fail to understand how this squares with the reported increase in infant asthma. All the ills of mankind seem to be laid at the smoker’s door, indeed I’m waiting daily for a member of the health police to turn up on my doorstep, blaming me for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the recent cold weather, and the declining fortunes of Portsmouth Football Club.

Perhaps the doyens of the medical world would do better to ask if there is another reason, such as the modern fashion for cocooning children in a cloud of anti-bacterial spray, therefore neatly ensuring that their natural immune systems have little chance of development.

When I was a lad, we were shovelled into the garden to get filthy, graze our knees, and eat ground. These days, if little Johnny so much as scratches his elbow, a SWAT of amateur paramedic mothers swoop down with various unguents, creams, sprays, and plasters. He is then rushed to A & E, where he is given a tetanus jab.

The honourable doctors also made the point that smoking in cars was dangerous, as it was a distraction. I have smoked for many years, and I’ve become quite good at it. I am perfectly capable of smoking and driving at the same time, just as some of our so called betters can probably walk and chew gum simultaneously.

The medical profession would be better served in calling for mandatory medical examinations for elderly drivers, ably demonstrated by the obviously myopic old lady who sailed straight through the red traffic lights at the bottom of the Tunnel, nearly causing the driver of an articulated lorry to have an unscheduled appointment with the steam clock.

In summary, smokers seem to be blamed for most things, most of the time. The powers that be should either make the consumption of tobacco illegal, or, for want of a better phrase, ‘pipe down’.

1
Diane

April 1, 2010 at 6:40 pm

I have never read a better letter than this one. Not only was it factual, but jolly amusing at the same time.

I agree with the entire contents but my favourite bit by far was :

“Perhaps the doyens of the medical world would do better to ask if there is another reason, such as the modern fashion for cocooning children in a cloud of anti-bacterial spray, therefore neatly ensuring that their natural immune systems have little chance of development.

When I was a lad, we were shovelled into the garden to get filthy, graze our knees, and eat ground.”

I remember wallowing in muck as a child and eating mud pies on occasion, yet the number of days I have taken off sick from school or work could be counted on one hand. Nowadays children (and young adults). smothered in anti bacterial this, and constantly wiped with disinfectant that, allegedly suffer from everything from frequent colds, tummy bugs and the ever prevalent asthma!.

Therefore I don’t agree that the recent increase in asthma is due to smoking in cars as this is far less prevalent today than it was in my youth (the smoking in cars, not the asthma) . I believe that this is more likely to be due to this obsession we have developed over disinfecting everything.

My hint to mothers would therefore be to stop sanitizing everything and let your little precious be exposed to the real world – then perhaps the smokers could get a day off from being blamed for your child’s health issues.

But then again perhaps mothers are not so concerned about their children after all – I passed a 4 wheel drive the other day, baby in the child seat in the back, mother in front smoking a fag whilst playing with her mobile phone!! If mother’s don’t care – why shoud anyone else.

P.S. I am not a smoker

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2
R B Bougourd

April 2, 2010 at 12:28 am

Making smoking in cars illegal, or, at the very least, educating those who do it towards ceasing their folly, would have a fringe benefit.

There would be no more smoking related litter being hurled out of car windows. And that includes foil and packaging as well asjust about every dog end ever finished in a car.

Then we could start on drinks containers and food packaging thrown out by the rest of the morons.

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3
Leah Holmes

April 4, 2010 at 9:47 am

I agree with most of the letter, however, since we are not meant to drink or eat while driving I believe we shouldn’t be allowed to smoke while driving either. Enforcing any of these is another issue altogether, but allow all or none.

I do agree that smoking should not be allowed in cars when children are present though, only because the children don’t get a say while an adult could easily choose just to not get in the car. Parents should not force their smoke upon their children, regardless of health implications.

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4
PJG

April 8, 2010 at 12:16 pm

I, as Leah Holmes, agree with “most” of the letter
BUT
“I am perfectly capable of smoking and driving at the same time”

Yeah, and what about the time a lit fag sticks to your lips and as you pull your hand away the red hot bit comes off and burns you between the fingers. You then shake your hand and it fly’s off elsewhere, you then spend frantic moments that should be used concentrating on driving looking for it only to find out your crotch is on fire and you’ve run down 3 old lady pedestrians

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5
Leah Holmes

April 8, 2010 at 2:37 pm

#4 I saw it happen once when I was on a bus and the sight still makes me laugh to this day, wouldn’t be so funny behind the wheel of a car though. If my can drops onto my lap, I can just leave it to soak me, as long as it doesn’t roll onto the floor and get jammed under a pedal.

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6
BS Deluxe

April 8, 2010 at 10:04 pm

Has anyone even considered that athsma coule be related to general fitness?

I suffered terrible asthma attacks as a kid and I mean “terrible” where I was hospitalised and put on oxygen masks.

However, once I got interested in football and cycled everywhere I never had a single attack.

As I got older and particpated in less sport or exercise my asthma gradually returned (but not to the extreme of my youth).

Maybe the fact these kids today lack exercise is a contributory factor……how many even walk or cycle to school these days let alone take part in PE?

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7
Spring Heeled Jack

April 9, 2010 at 12:37 pm

Leah, I presume that your posting was in jest. I would have thought that driving whilst holding a large tin can of drink is just as, or probably more dangerous, than holding a cigarette.
What do you do once finished with the can? Do you toss it over your shoulder onto the back seat of the car or throw it out of the window?
Also , try explaining the wet crotch when arrive at your destination ….. “its Coke, honest”.

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