Pros and cons of the smoking ban, five years on
Tomorrow is the fifth anniversary of the smoking ban in England.
Forest issued a press release renewing our call for a review of the ban (as promised by the last government) and an amendment that would allow separate smoking rooms in pubs and clubs.
See: Review the smoking ban and allow separate smoking rooms, says Forest
Media interest has been limited to say the least. However I shall be doing a few interviews tomorrow, including BBC Breakfast at 6:40 and 8:40.
The bad news is, I have to be in Salford ...
Update: The BBC has a report here - Smoking ban's impact five years on.
According to the Guardian the Smoking ban 'has reduced asthma and heart attacks'.
If you believe that you'll believe, well, anything. At least the Guardian had the decency to use quotation marks.
See what Chris Snowdon thinks of the report: Five years of junk in one place (Velvet Glove Iron Fist)
Got up 2.30am.
Left the house at three. Drove to Manchester (Salford). Arrived at six. In make-up at 6.15. On air with Andrea Crossfield, director of Tobacco Free Futures (formerly Smokefree North West) at 6.50 and again at 8.45.
There was quite a feisty exchange each time but off air we got on quite well (sorry).
This is my first visit to MediaCity in Salford. I am currently sitting in the Green Room which is at one end of a large open plan office and overlooks a large expanse of water and the Imperial War Museum North on the opposite bank.
Everyone else has gone home but I'll be here for another couple of hours doing local radio interviews.
After that I'll get back in my car and drive home.
Weird.