Smoking Latest

south west | miscellaneous | news report Thursday April 09, 2009 23:05 by Tom

Latest research and figures from BBC News Lunchtime Today

The BBC has revealed that 40% of previously profitable bars etc in the European countries affected by the smoking ban have closed since the bans were introduced. Smokers are apparently respecting the bans, but voting with their wallets, with catastrophic results for the hospitality industry.

Meanwhile, research into the causes of smoking among teenagers shows bullying and lack of self-esteem to be key determinant factors in the decision to take up the habit.

Nu Labour has apparently warned health campaigners to tone down the stridency of their belligerent anti-smoking campaigns. The fact that David Cameron smokes 20 Marlboro Lights a day, and is said to be in favour of tax reductions on tobacco, has not been lost on Government sources. With a General Election no more than a year away, the prospect of a Labour meltdown can only be increased by alienating the smoking vote, currently estimated at 35% of the voting population.

The last word should perhaps go to a former pub landlord:

'When the Government banned smoking, they took away my livelihood. For a time, the family trade did support us, but then the Credit Crunch came, and they all had to concentrate on paying their mortgages I suppose. It's another case of the do-gooders doing no good at all.'