Ire and smoke

Nothing annoys me more than false arguing. So, while sympathising with the British Medical Association’s (BMA) campaign to reduce smoking (your report, 16 November) I find this particular case as presented completely unconvincing.

Its “compelling evidence” for a ban on smoking in cars is nothing of the sort. I’m out and about daily, and apart from school times I find the huge majority of cars have no passengers.

Moreover, I rarely see anyone smoking in either case.

My lifetime experience suggests that the “secondary smoke” argument is false. Our generation – I’m retired – remembers the metal cups behind seats in buses, cinemas and theatres. People smoked everywhere: at work, in shops, phone boxes and pubs – even in bed. Even TV presenters smoked on camera.

If passive smoking was so deadly there would not be the present concern about affording pensions and care for our growing elderly population; they wouldn’t exist.

That apart, people are rightly becoming fed up with increasing intrusion in matters of personal choice. Many are now exercising that choice as the BMA would surely approve, by smoking outside their own homes.

I take it for granted that membership of the BMA is restricted to non-smokers.

Robert Dow

Ormiston Road

Tranent