Information should be disseminated on the dangers of second-hand smoke

Mar 30, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! This real estate mantra came to me as I considered the irony of the proposed anti-smoking legislation. The government is proposing a smoking ban in public places, among other things, as a part of their anti-smoking legislation.
When I thought about this, I wondered at the motive and their justification. Is smoke in a square different from smoke on my uncle’s veranda? It’s the same smoke so why is it alright on his veranda? And why is it different if my Uncle has people who work at his home? The justification may be that the government is looking out for the health of the public and to curb smoke pollution in their cities and towns but what of the country areas and the homes?
They can be dirty and hazardous? You see, if the difference is location there is no justification, the law only applies to public places because beyond that the law would be impossible to impose. A murder in the public causes the same outrage as in the home and the perpetrators wherever, are charged accordingly.
Since cigarettes are not illegal substances a man in possession of tobacco cannot be criminalized. If simply moving from a public space to say a tenement yard- not a public place by the government’s standards- full of children playing, is not against the law then the law does address what it proposes to address. I do not promote smoking around children, but I use this example to show that the building block of this proposed ban is location.
Location is too easily manipulated for the law to have the effect of protecting non-smokers from second hand smoke. What will protect citizens is not an easily manipulated law but information on the hazards of second hand smoke, the dangers of smoking and respect for non-smokers and smokers. What will protect our industries and our economy is not higher taxes and prohibiting advertising of products but support for our farmers and distributors and an integrated approach that will contribute to the building of a stronger nation.
Dalan Friday

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