Torran Turner points to the dangers of the current proposal; plus letters from Dave Pollard and Richard Thorley
I read Prof Chris Whitty’s article with interest (This new bill could wipe out smoking – the only losers would be those who profit from it, 16 April). I have the utmost respect for his medical expertise; I have none. I am a former smoker who started young. I do not oppose legislation to bring about behavioural change, in general. But the prospect in 30 years’ time of a 50-year-old having to buy cigarettes for a 44-year-old is a practical nonsense. Either ban smoking, or don’t – I can see no justification for the law in the future seeing a 50-year-old as competent to understand the risks of smoking and buy tobacco, but not a 44-year-old.
We know already from the war on drugs (among other things) that the end result of prohibition is a black market; this will be as true for cigarettes for younger generations as it is for recreational drugs now. How much police time and money will then be wasted trying to crack down on that market in the future?
