Smokers treated like lepers says Tom

A week ago I was contacted by a local newspaper in Fife.

An elderly reader had written to complain about the treatment of smokers.

To its credit the Dunfermline Press and West Fife Advertiser sensed a story and interviewed Tom, 80.

The paper also invited Forest (and ASH Scotland) to comment. I told them:

"Tom is not alone. There are a great many adults just like him who choose to smoke and have no wish to give up, yet they are stigmatised by public health campaigners who won't be happy until every smoker has quit and Scotland is 'smoke-free'.

"No-one disputes the health risks associated with smoking but there can't be a sane adult in the country who isn't aware of them.

"Excessive regulation is a curse of modern life and few groups have been subjected to more legislation, much of it excessive, than smokers.

"The smoking ban was followed by legislation to ban the display of tobacco in shops and outlaw tobacco vending machines.

"Now government wants to prohibit smoking in outdoor areas like hospital grounds and introduce standardised packaging when there is no evidence it will have any impact on smoking rates."

Interestingly, Tom's comments have provoked exactly the sort of intolerance and bile he is complaining about.

You can read the full article here - Smokers treated like lepers rages 20-a-day man Tom.