Doctors urge smoking ban in vehicles
Written by Danny Keightley
It's become a hot topic for debate over the past couple of weeks; doctors have argued the that influence of cigarettes on children is responsible for asthma and bacterial meningitis. Well, it's nice that they're thinking of the children, but do any law enforcers have a right to ban what is essentially a legal habit in somebody's own personal property? No offence to Liverpool's police force, but such a law would be unbelievably difficult to uphold, and the stubborn smokers of Britain aren't likely to fully adhere.

Obviously, it's particular to the individual. A lot of (good) parents will not light up around their children, fully aware of the varying effects of second hand smoke. The statistics are outstanding, and albeit..shocking, but it's a matter of practicality.

Statistics aside for a moment here, though...it's a widely known fact that the smoking bans in pubs/indoor areas have resorted to parents smoking at home, thus doubling the effects of second hand smoke on children. Why not just ban smoking altogether? It's borderline ridiculousness. Consider the potential disasters, too. We all know that a lot of smokers smoke when they're feeling stressed, and in turn will become stressed if deprived of a cigarette for a certain amount of time. We're talking religious smokers here, but we all know how much stress in vehicles can turn nasty, and with kids in the car? Consider.

Do we live in a world in which the narrow-minded cannot let anybody think for themselves?
Is this a matter of control or health? You decide.

Cars, beaches, playgrounds, sporting stadiums, outside supermarkets, NO SMOKING. It's downright oppressive and it's not as if I'm ignorant to the effects of tobacco but one has to ask themselves if this will reach the point in which Brits will be confined to their homes to smoke? They'd most probably have a law against that too if they could police it properly.

It's a complex issue, and a controversial one at that. Simple mindedly I'll state: smokers will smoke, doctors will preach, laws will be made, and said laws will be broken. Like many others will believe, it's a ban too far. Especially when you avert your eyes to childhood obesity, alcoholism, and the likes.

Here's a suggestion, why not ban children from using cars? Make 'em walk to school! It'll be sure-fire to combat the aforementioned childhood obesity problem!