Anti-social habits

Press, 18 March 1986, Page 20

Anti-social habits

Sir,—Smokers are the target of an extensive campaign against them, ostensibly for their own good, but in reality because they are a “soft” target. Unlike alcohol users, they are unlikely to lay about them with a four-by-two in a tobacconist because they have been refused service, nor do they climb into a car and maim and injure other people because they have over-indulged in their anti-social habit. I think the tremendous effort put into this campaign could be better utilised in campaigns against other anti-social habits such as drunkenness, rape, assault and theft. If a thief steals something from someone else, the owner is blamed for not protecting his possession sufficiently. Take for example the television advertisement that begins "... if you are foolish enough not to lock your car ...” This is like a smoker saying: “If my smoke gets in your lungs, it’s your fault for not holding your breath.” What use is a society made up of nonsmoking rapists, muggers and thieves? We should get our priorities right, and attack the more important targets. — Yours, etc., lAN JOHNSON. March 10, 1986.