nickshanagher

Celebrating the fifth anniversary of the ban on smoking in public places, the Guardian published a well written leader celebrating this policy as almost cost-free and that could save untold numbers of lives. This neatly encapsulates the seductive power of anti-smoking measures in the minds of MPs. The second claim - saving lives - could perhaps be better stated as prolonging lives. Moving swiftly on, the newspaper says that it took 60 years for a "smoking ban" to be introduced. The Guardian has a reputation for grammatical errors. Perhaps this is shorthand for "smoking in public places ban". However, it goes on to discuss how single-issue campaigns on things like seatbelts and lead-free petrol worked. Professional awareness, campaigns for public awareness, industry reaction, then finally government action. What is next? Alcohol and obesity, the Guardian says. The government, it says, is trying to avoid taking action by passing...