I feel the need to say this before I launch into the debate so the reader can acknowledge my point of view. This is simply because whenever the topic of smoking is discussed, it is startling how smokers are never courted for their opinion. Instead, health officials and government ministers hog the limelight.
So in the interest of balance, I will admit, I am a smoker. I'm not proud of this, but I likewise do not think that I am the practioner of a dirty habit or that I am committing some taboo act which smoking has come to be seen.
Moving on, when the government announced its budget, it announced that the price of tobacco was to rise again. This was a continuation of the last government's policy to price smokers out of their habit. It met with no opposition from the Labour benches and was widely supported.
Brian Rollo, a Labour councillor in Preston, Lancashire, is proof of this. Despite being a staunch Labour man, he fully supports the recent measures adopted by the Conservatives, a continuation of the old Labour government’s idea.
“The policy for a number of years now has been to increase the price of cigarette packets, above the rate of inflation,” he says.
This is certainly true and it seems to be working with the number of people smoking having fallen. However, from my own personal experience it has not stopped me or any of my friends who smoke. Whenever the price of cigarettes goes up, I simply notice that the price of a packet is not what it once was. I deal with it, and move on. In extreme circumstances, I might change my brand of choice, if I really cannot afford those trusty Lambert and Butlers.
Mr Rollo certainly feels it is a policy that works. There is no doubt he endorses any attempts to curb smoking in Britain.
“It kills people at the end of the day,” he sighs, “I’ve seen people die from smoking myself and most regular smokers would like to give up.”
Mr Rollo himself quit smoking in 1984, he had been a smoker for fifteen years. As well as government measures to tackle smoking he feels it is important for politicians to support the NHS in their attempts to educate the public of the dangers of smoking and also to aid the regional Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
One such issue the Primary Care Trusts of the UK are discussing at the moment is the idea of brand-neutral packaging for cigarettes. This is following on from their lobbying to make sure cigarette packets cannot be seen behind the counter at supermarkets. The idea of not having a brand name on your cigarette packaging is an interesting one, but will it stop people smoking? Probably not. Will it stop people starting? Maybe. However, it is difficult to see how a child who has been brought up in a family of smokers will be put off the habit by the fact that the packaging is not what it used to be. When it comes to smoking everyone's reason for doing it is different and the circumstances surrounding their addiction is unique.
Personally, I am sick to death with the vilification of smoking. Like I said in the introduction, I am not proud of the fact that I smoke and yes, I perhaps would like to give up. But the looks of disgust I see on people's faces when I "spark up" I feel are vastly disproportionate to any perceived crime I am committing on the human race. If you do not want to breathe in my smoke, don't stand next to me. It's as simple as that.
However, the very fact there is this vilification shows that the government and the NHS is winning its battle and for that, I suppose, they should be applauded. At the end of the day, people do hold convictions against those who smoke and those who do not smoke are in the majority in this country.
What will be interesting is how the nation will react when the government and the NHS really ramp up the pressure on the United Kingdom's other great addiction. Perhaps its biggest addiction of them all.
Alcohol.
