Quote:
|
Originally Posted by SlackDad
We have pilot studies in other areas such as longer opening hours for licensed premises that can be conducted in whole towns or areas for a set period of time to assess the changes. How can a ban be introduced without this kind of evidence?
|
The general statistical correlation between smoking (including passive smoking) and diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease and athsma is very well understood and, in my view (and the view of the medical fraternity), is already more than adequate to justify a ban.
I think the comparison with pub opening hours is bogus. Such trials are designed to assess behavioural changes and can therefore operate effectively over a period of months. A pilot study banning smoking would require something like 50 years to be effective. This is plainly silly, and as we already have ample evidence that doing nothing will result in more needless death, the time for decisive action is clearly now.