[jambutty]

So according to you Guinness, because motor vehicles are considered a necessity, it is OK to pollute the atmosphere with them. But because you consider the smoking of tobacco products is a luxury, smoking should be severely restricted if not totally banned. Now there is an interesting, selfish and sanctimonious philosophy. One person’s luxury is another person’s necessity and vice versa.

If we restrict the use of vehicles then explain to me how come vehicle numbers on the roads increase year by year and choke up the motorways and other roads? How come the school run has become a road traffic nightmare twice a day during school term? If you call that restriction then you should really re-examine your argument because it is crass in the extreme.

Today’s fuels are indeed cleaner than those of yesteryear but the exhaust gases still pollute, it’s just that you can’t see the fumes anymore. You can smell them though. In any case it takes time and mileage for a cat to do its job, meanwhile the car is spewing out death.

I stand by my original statement that this "muddies the waters" of a strong case for infringement of the basic human right to freedom of choice.

You will probably kick yourself now for making that statement because it strengthens the smoker’s case no end. We all have the same the basic human right of freedom of choice. I choose to smoke in my own home/garden or in my car. I may chose to have a fag whilst walking down the street, not that I can walk very far. It helps to mask the vehicle fumes. If you came into my home or I give you a lift in my car and I choose to have a smoke then you will have to either leave, get out or lump it. If we pass in the street and you object to me walking past you smoking a fag I will tell you where to go in no uncertain terms.

If I walk into any building and there is not a sign stating that people are allowed to smoke I will not light up. If I call at your house I won’t even ask you if you minded if I smoked. I would wait to be invited to do so. I won’t even take leave to go outside for a fag and then come back in. It’s called having respect for other people’s views which are lacking in the smoking protestors.

No person’s rights take precedence over another and the compromise is live and let live which seems to be beyond your comprehension.