Time is right to scrap total ban on smoking

I WAS very pleased to read that the recent MP expenditure scandal has prompted columnist John Abberley to discuss again the smoking ban.

I agree that this could be an opportune time to question the total ban when the partial ban was working so well and at very little cost.

This ban was implemented by an unscrupulous body of people who have proven quite clearly that they are incapable of effectively handling their own finances.

Consider this, the Government recoups a staggering 27 billion pounds annually by way of tobacco tax. This money could have done much to boost our ailing national health service. For instance over the last few years we have seen:

Extortionate prescription charges and very often second-class medication;

Postcode lottery for breast cancer sufferers;

GPs, paramedics and hospital staff expected to perform to a strict time schedule. How can you put a time limit on say a road accident or heart attack?

Closure of care homes for the elderly and those with special needs;

Closure of day nurseries and day centres;

Mental health needs grossly neglected.

How effective has the total smoking ban proved to be and at what cost?

Millions of pounds have been wasted on ineffective advertising, and television advertising in particular has swallowed up a large portion of the money.

Millions of pounds have been wasted on clinics offering free counselling, all manner of lotions, potions, patches and pills, all free with compliments of the health ministry. Most hoping to kick the smoking habit revert back within a few weeks.

The latest proposal regarding tobacco is to make it illegal for cigarette vendors to display them, hence millions of pounds will be spent by way of compensating vendors towards the cost of refurbishing their premises to accommodate the storing of tobacco products.

The very fact that these laws were put into place bang in the middle of a global recession beggars belief. All in all, at the end of the day what has been achieved?

Forty-five pubs are closing every day, incurring thousands of job losses and in hundreds of sad cases, landlords and their families are losing their homes and livelihood.

The tourist trade will inevitable be affected. I for one wouldn't want to spend my holiday savings on hotel accommodation where I couldn't relax with a drink and cigarette.

I believe John's view is far from being in a minority. I too am waiting for some courageous politician to propose that the ban on smoking in pubs be overturned.

MS G PARR

Stoke-on-Trent