[Eric]

I quit smoking when my surgeon suggested that quitting was a better alternative to dying. But I do think that the smoking nazis are becoming a little too punitive. They seem to believe that by punishing smokers and by making it difficult to smoke outside by hiding or removing ashtrays they will convince smokers to quit. It's an addiction for christ's sake! And a damned hard one to get rid of. If the fines went into a fund to create programmes for those who wish to quit or to convince the non-smoking youth that tobacco addiction is dangerous not only to smokers but also to non-smokers that would be ok. But, from some of the posts, one gets the idea that this is just one more local govt. cash grab.

I know it's a little off topic; but, it also p***es me off that the smoking nazis seem to have turned smoking into a moral issue ... suggesting that smokers are somehow worse people than non-smokers.