Why oh why oh why?
Smokers could be forced to pay £10 for a permit to buy tobacco if a government health advisory body gets its way.
No one would be able to buy cigarettes without the permit, under the idea proposed by Health England...
He said it was the inconvenience of getting a permit - as much as the cost - that would deter people from persisting with the smoking habit. (BBC)
How can this possibly be justified in any way? It really does seem that smokers are the whipping-boys at the moment. Consider this: the smoking ban, raising the legal age of purchase to 18, and now requiring a licence. All points to one end aim: making smoking illegal.No one would be able to buy cigarettes without the permit, under the idea proposed by Health England...
He said it was the inconvenience of getting a permit - as much as the cost - that would deter people from persisting with the smoking habit. (BBC)
I really don't like smoking. I consider it a horrible and disgusting habit. But I also think that it sure as hell isn't up to me to tell smokers whether or not they can smoke. An age limit - and proof of age being required before cigarettes being purchased is surely enough? If they want to smoke, they've made their aim pretty clear by asking for cigarettes at the counter. Why is a licence to do this - especially at time of purchase - at all necessary or justifiable under anything bar dictatorship?
Totally illiberal and totally wrong.
