Sir, - Smoking, even habitually, is an addiction, not a habit. This is an important distinction which is often not understood by both smokers and non-smokers. Nicotine differs from most other drugs in that addicts require it so as to remain normal. Withdrawal of the opportunity to use the drug can cause intense suffering for a smoker.
Human beings are social creatures. Severe restrictions on smoking cause social isolation of smokers and attack a very fundamental human need. Society is gradually criminalising smoking and that is cruel to addicts, many of whom have tried repeatedly to quit.
The sole drug pusher, as far as nicotine is concerned in Ireland, is the Government. It controls all sales through licences and uses the awesome force of the State to retain sole control. It gets most of the money spent on tobacco. Because the State provides the system to supply this addictive drug, it must surely take responsibility for treating addicts for any illness arising from their addiction.
If the idea behind restrictions is to protect non-smokers, they do not have to be so severe as to be cruel. Reduction of exposure to a small level would appear to be reasonable. It is not justifiable to "ethnically cleanse" smokers. Some provisions should be made for those who cannot quit while at the same time keeping passive smoking to a minimum. Vehicles are not totally banned to protect pedestrians from fumes and accidents.
If the idea is also to protect smokers, why is the huge revenue not put into the health service? Particularly, why is it not also used to substantially subsidise tobacco replacements and various therapies for assisting smokers to quit? Most smokers are good people and they deserve to have their health protected too. Smokers are victims! Far greater overall health gains would be achieved by reducing the number of smokers than by cruelly depriving them of their last refuges in places where passive smokers are already well protected.
Money is often quoted as being the Government's motivation for its contradictory actions. However, as smokers quit, taxes could simply be transferred onto other items. Would society please rethink this increasingly cruel state of affairs? - Yours, etc.,
Eamonn Lane, Dublin 7.