I note that there has been another attack on my personal freedom. There is a move to ban smoking in public spaces, specifically in parks. I'm sure that most of you know that I am a pipe smoker, really enjoy the habit and as far as I can tell it hasn't done me the slightest bit of harm. My mind goes back to the days when the Wild Bunch met regularly up on the double park bench at Letcliffe provided for us by Colin Patten when he was in charge at Parks and Leisure. Billy Parsons and I would sit there smoking our pipes while Big Jack kept us company and as far as I know we never harmed or offended anyone. By the way I met Billy on the town the other day and he is in wonderful condition despite his 90 plus years. I told him that he is the target I am aiming for.
My complaint is based on the fact that all the anti-smoking legislation is based on cigarette smoking and it might surprise you to hear that I support it in the main. I used to smoke cigarettes and know how bad they are for you. However, nobody has ever proved that pipe smoking is as dangerous as cigarettes. Think of the number of old cocks you knew who enjoyed their pipe all their lives. The most common reaction I get if anyone gets a whiff of Condor is that it's a lovely scent and reminds them of someone long gone.
From what I understand about 'passive smoking' and its effects on non-smokers it is only dangerous if it is in high concentrations, such as a pub or a restaurant. That's the reason why the walls in the old pubs used to turn yellow. I'm all in favour of prohibiting smoking in such places both for the clients and for the protection of staff who have to work in those conditions but hold on a bit, in a public space with a breeze blowing? How about the concentration of incense smoke in a Roman Catholic church or smoke from a barbecue, both proven to be as dangerous, if not more so, than smoking.
Can we please have a bit of common sense. A pipe smoking pensioner on a park bench is not a menace to public health or a drag on the NHS. It's a strange world where something as artificial and unproven as 'E' cigarettes are deemed lawful but smoking pure tobacco leaves is not. Note that I say pure because most of the ill-effects of cigarettes stems from the additives to help the tobacco burn and possibly the burning cigarette paper. Good tobacco is just that, dried leaves with perhaps some molasses or other natural substance included in the blend. It would make sense to acknowledge that there is a difference and exempt us crumblies from both the ban and the punitive tax rates. We've done our share for the country and deserve a bit of thought in our old age!
A danger to public health?
