Paradise lost

My 'Visit Scotland' post aroused some comment here and elsewhere.

The gist of it was, "We're smokers and we won't go to a country that makes us feel unwelcome."

I'm sympathetic to that point of view but my post wasn't about smoking (I do have other interests!), it was about the forthcoming referendum and the fact that a huge number of English people who say they support the union have never been to Scotland, which I find difficult to fathom.

This phenomenon pre-dates the smoking ban so while it may be a reason not to visit Scotland today it wasn't a reason before.

Now, if you support the union it follows that you believe Britain to be one nation – the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.

So if you're going to boycott Scotland because of the smoking ban and other anti-smoker legislation, surely you have to boycott other parts of the UK as well?

England has had a smoking ban since 2007 so logically you must refuse to visit Cornwall or the Lake District, for example, unless you have no choice (business, perhaps).

All of which leads me to Pat Nurse who has just returned to Britain following a six-week holiday in Italy.

Pat has commented that she won't spend a penny in Scotland, Wales or Ireland because of anti-smoking legislation but there's law banning smoking in most indoor public places in Italy so why would she visit that country but not those closer to home?

As it happens I know the answer because I've read Pat's account of her trip on The Free Society.

Clue: it's the culture of tolerance and common sense which is sadly lacking in the UK and other English-speaking countries like Australia, Canada and parts of the United States.

'Italy, a smoker’s paradise' is a great read. I thoroughly recommend it.

Above: Pat during her recent holiday in Italy