Much ado about smoking

Published on Wednesday 26 March 2008 20:17

Anti-smoking hysteria continues with the announcement that the UK Government is considering making cigarette sales "under-the-counter" and also on the horizon is the removal of vending machines from pubs and clubs. As an exercise in propaganda it is well timed considering that the two-year anniversary of the smoking ban in Scotland fell on 26 March, but it does raise the question of how far the anti-smokers are prepared to go in their war against tobacco.

Making cigarette sales under-the-counter will not reduce smoking in young people and vending machines account for just under 2 per cent of cigarette sales in the UK. A voluntary scheme is already in existence in the hospitality industry where customers change money into vending-machine tokens , thus controlling use of them.

EDDIE DOUTHWAITE, Provost Milne Grove, South Queensferry, West Lothian