smoke lies

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Smoke, Lies and the Nanny State

SMOKE, LIES AND THE NANNY STATE

For thousands of years in the Americas, and about 500 years prettymucheverywhereelse, tobaccohasbeena friend tomankind. Ithasbeenusedtorelax,tostimulate,andtotreatvariousailments. Ithasbeenavitalpartofritualsbothsocialandspiritual. Ithasbeenusedascurrency.Wholecommunitieshavebeenfoundedonit-including,arguably,theUnitedStatesofAmerica. Waitaminute.Scratchthat!Smokingisavile,filthyhabitthatwillalmostinevitablykillyou.Noonesmokeswillingly;theyaresimplypatheticaddicts,dupedbyeviltobaccocompanies.Tobaccoisaplaguewhichmustbewipedout. Likemostpeoplethesedays,Iwasmoreinclined,upuntilafew

years ago, tobelieve the secondparagraph than thefirst. Iwas a verymoderate smoker andalmostgaveup.Butsomethingaboutthesheerhysteriaoftheantismokingmovement,andthevariousholesandcontradictionsintheirarguments,mademesuspicious.Sometimeinthelate1990sIarrivedinLosAngelesand,asmytaxipulledoutoftheairport,Iwasconfrontedbyahugeredbillboard:SECONDHANDSMOKEKILLS.Ithought:evenheavysmokerstakeseveraldecadestodeveloplungcancer.Surelyanonsmoker,evenregularlyexposedtosmokeintheair,wouldhavetolivetobeabout300tocatchup?Andhowexactlywouldyouknowitwassmokethatkilledthem,asopposedto,say,theappallingLAsmog? SincethenI’veresearchedthesmokingissueindepth.I’veunravelledreamsofstatistics,metwithdoctorsandacademics,andnetworkedwithscoresofotherresearchersandactivistswhoaretryingtogetatthetruth.I’mnowconvincedthatthedangersofsmoking-andparticularly‘passive’ smoking - aregreatly exaggerated, for reasonswhichhavemore todowithpolitics,powerandprofitthanobjectivescience.Ibelievetheantismokingmovement-especiallylobbygroupslikeASH(ActiononSmokingandHealth)-hasfartoomuchmoneyandinfluence,andthattheirdishonestyandbullyingtacticsshouldbeworryingeventothosewhohatetobacco. Thisessayisinfourparts.Thefirstexaminestherisksofsmoking;thesecond,‘secondhandsmoke’; the third, smoking bans; and the fourth (and perhaps most important) some broadersocialandpoliticalcontexts.Thereisalsoalistattheendoffurthersources,resourcesandwaystogetinvolved.Sincemyintentionistoofferanintroductiontosomeoftheseissues,ratherthanatextbook,I’verefrainedfromfootnotesorlistsofsources,butIcanpromisethereaderthattheycanallbefound-andbackedupoverandoveragain-throughthatlist.

Joe JacksonApril 2007

Joe Jackson is a musician and writer best known for hits such as ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’, ‘It’s Different For Girls’ and ‘Steppin’ Out’. In 1999 he wrote A Cure For Gravity, “a book about music thinly disguised as a memoir”, and in 2000 he won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for the non-orchestral Symphony No.1. Born in England in 1954, Joe lived in New York for 20 years from 1983 to 2003, when he returned to London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Portsmouth, his home town. A “social smoker”, Joe has researched the subject of smoking in depth and in 2004 wrote a widely-read essay, ‘The Smoking Issue’. He has also written articles on the subject for the New York Times, Daily Telegraph and Guardian, among others. He is currently living and working in Berlin.

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ONE

COMMONKNOWLEDGE

Itishasbecome‘commonknowledge’thatsmokingisoneoftheworstthingsyoucanpossiblydotoyourself;‘alltheexpertsagree’.Ofcourse,‘alltheexperts’onceagreedthatmasturbationcaused blindness, that homosexuality was a disease, and that marijuana turned people intohomicidalmaniacs.Inthe1970sand80sBritishdoctorstoldmotherstoputtheirbabiestosleepface-down.Cotdeathssoared,untilacampaignbyonenursesucceededinchangingthispolicy,whichwenowknowtohaveclaimedsomethinglike15,000lives. Mostmedicalpractitioners, institutions,and lobbygroupsarehard-workingandwell-intentioned.Buttheycanjustaseasilybeclueless,biased,orcorrupt,nottomentionincreasingly,and worryingly, embedded with the pharmaceutical industry. Yet while presidents and primeministersareroutinelycastigatedas liarsandcrooks, it’sraretoencounterevenwhatIwoulddescribeashealthyscepticismtowardshealthprofessionals.Whyshouldthisbeso? Ibelievethatwehavetoputourfaithinsomeone,andthatasourfaithinpoliticalandreligiousleadershasdeclined,wehavebecomenotonlyexcessivelyreverenttowardsdoctorsandscientists,butincreasinglywillingtoallowthemtodictateourlifestylesandlaws.Healthisseenasanunqualifiedgood.Whocanbeagainst‘health’?Likewise,‘science’isequatedwithintegrityandcertainty.Ithasbecomeourreligion. Unfortunately,thereispreciouslittlegenuinesciencetobefoundinthepronouncementsofmediapunditsandpoliticians.Insteadwe’refedasteadydietof ‘junkscience’:factsoutofcontextandoutofproportion,insubstantialclaimsbasedondubiousmethodology,andclevergameswithstatistics.Liketheperennialpubborewhoholdsforthwithgreatauthorityonanynumberoftopics,theaveragepoliticianornewspapereditortendstopromotewhatever‘science’suitshisorherprejudiceoragenda.

THINGSTOBEARINMIND

I’mgettingtothesmokingissue,butIbelieveit’sessentialtostartoffbypleadingforamuchmorescepticalattitudetowardshealthauthorities,nottomentionpeoplewhouse ‘health’aswindow-dressingfortheiragendas.I’malsotryingtodisentangleemotionalprejudiceandfashionfromreason.Inthehalf-centuryI’vebeenonthisplanet,I’veseennoworseexampleofhopelessentanglementthaninthedebate-orlackofdebate-oversmoking. Smokinghasalwaysbeensomethingwhichmanypeopleloveandmanyothersjustdon’tget.Asfarasthey’reconcerned,itquiteliterallystinks.Theythereforetendtobelieveanyhorrorstorytheyhearaboutit. Therehavealsoalwaysbeenpeoplewhowantedtostopussmoking.Aprettydismalbunchthey’vebeen,too,fromSultanMuradIVofTurkey(whohadsmokerscastrated)toAdolfHitler.Butwhateveryourpersonalfeelingsabouttobacco,it’sworthbearinginmindthatantismokershavealwaysexaggerateditsdangers.They’vealwayshadto,sinceit’snotenoughtotellpeople-youngpeopleespecially-thatsomethingtheyenjoyjustmightendupmakingthemsickin,say,40years’time.Butlet’strytobemorespecific.

LUNGCANCER,ANDCONVENIENTNUMBERS

Weseemtobeobsessedwithcancerthesedays,perhapsbecausetheideathatsomethingisstillbeyondthepowerofdoctorsandscientistsscaresthelivingdaylightsoutofus.Idon’tmeantotrivialise;myfatherdiedofcancer.Idothink,though,thatwe’reoverlyzealousinoursearchforscapegoats(recentmediareportshaveclaimedthatwecangetcancerfromhairdye,softdrinks

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andoralsex).Ialsowanttopointout-turningthenegativeintoapositiveforonce-thatcancerismostlyadiseaseoftheold,andanotherreasonitloomssolargeisthatwe’relivinglongerandmostlyhealthierlivesthanatanytimeinhistory. Lungcanceristhediseasemoststronglyassociatedwithsmoking,thougheventhisisastatisticalratherthanacausativelink.Inotherwords,ithasbeenstatisticallyshownthatsmokersaremorelikelytogetlungcancer,ratherthanscientificallyshownthatthecancerisspecificallycausedbythesmoking.This isamore importantdistinctionthan itmightseem.Muchoftheantismokers’caseisbasedonstatistics,andstatisticsisnotscience. Itdoesmakesense-solongasyoudon’tmindbullyingpeopleoutoftheirpleasures-totrytobringdowntherateoflungcancerbygettingpeopletoquitsmoking.Buttheevidencelinkingsmokingwith lungcancer ismuch lessconvincingthanweare ledtobelieve.Foronething,thereismuchdisagreementaboutwhattheactualriskfactoris. ThegeneralconsensusseemstoreflectthepioneeringstudiesofProfessorSirRichardDollinthe1950sand60s,whicharestillregardedas‘benchmarks’.Dollreckonedthatabout160in100,000smokersdevelopedlungcancerasopposedto7in100,000nonsmokers;soyouhaveabouta24timesgreaterriskifyousmoke.Thiscanalsobeexpressedas‘2,400%’.Butbewareofestimatesof‘increasedrisk,’especiallywhenexpressedinpercentages;they’reagoodsignthatsomeoneistryingtofrighten,ratherthantoinform. Ifyoubuy25lotteryticketsinsteadofone,yourchancesofwinninggoupby2,500%.Butthoughthenumbersoundsimpressive,youractualchancesofwinningarestillminuscule. Likewise,ifProfDollwasright,youstillhavea99.8%chanceofnotgettinglungcancer.This isnothingmoreor less thana re-presentation,or re-packaging,of the samedata.But itimmediatelysoundsalotlessscary.Especiallyifsmokingissomethingyoulove.MOREINCONVENIENTNUMBERS

Statistics always present one version of reality while leaving out many others. For instance:antismokers’increased-riskestimatesleaveoutthefactthatamajorityoflungcancershappenwithin,orbeyond,thenormalrangeofdeath.Inotherwords,iflungcancerisgoingtogetyou,it’llprobablydosoaroundthetimewhensomethingisgoingtogetyou,whetheryousmokeornot. Therearealsomanycontradictorystatisticsoutthereforthosewhocaretolook.NativeAmericanshavehalftherateoflungcancerofwhiteAmericanseventhoughtheysmokemuchmore.VeryfewChinesewomensmokeandyettheyhaveoneofthehighestlungcancerratesintheworld.Lungcancerratespracticallyeverywherehavebeenrisingsinceabout1930andinsomecases(e.g.Americanwomen)havenotpeakedyet,despitethefactthatsmokingrateshavegonesteadilydown.Japan,oneoftheworld’sheaviest-smokingnations,isalsointhetoptwoorthreeinlifeexpectancy.Japaneseratesoflungcancerandheartdiseasehaveneverthelessbeenrisingforthelast3decades-atthesametimeastheirsmokingratehasgonedown.PerhapsthisisbecausetheirdietandlifestylehavebecomeincreasinglyAmericanised.Ireallydon’tknow.All I’msaying is that ‘inconvenient’ facts shouldbe investigated, rather thansweptunderthecarpet. Themoreyoulookintothissortofthing,themurkieritgets.Eventheterm‘smoker’isdefined differently in different studies; some only look at heavy long-term cigarette smokers(there is very little risk in cigar or pipe smoking anyway) but others define anyone who hassmoked100cigarettesintheirlifeasa‘smoker,’otherscountassmokerspeoplewhoquit20yearsbefore,andsoon. Antismokersmaintainthatsmokingisresponsibleforabout90%oflungcancerdeaths.ButtheLungCancerAlliance,aUSlobbygroup,maintainsthatahalfoflungcancervictimshaveneversmoked.

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All cancershavemultiple risk factors (about40havebeen identified for lungcancer)andnoonereallyknowswhysomepeoplegetsickandothersdon’t.Lungcanceristheeasiestdiseasetolinkwithsmoking,buteveninthiscase,thedangercannotpossiblybeanywherenearasgreataswe’recurrentlybeingtold.Ofcourse,manypeoplehavegivenupsincetheUSSurgeonGeneral’s announcement, in 1964, that smoking could cause lung cancer. Butnomatterhowmanypeoplequit,it’sneverenoughfortheantismokingzealots.Thisiswhythey’veturnedtheirattentionmoreandmoreto:

THESMOKING-RELATEDDISEASE

Thisisoneoftheantismokers’cleverestinventions.Tosaythatadiseaseis‘smoking-related’isnotthesameassayingthat it isdirectlycausedbysmoking,orthatthere isanyactualproofofanything. Itmeanssimplythatsomeonehasdecidedthatsmokingmay be a factor inthatdisease. Overthe lastcoupleofdecades,moreandmorediseaseshavebeenaddedtothe list,oftenwithverylittleevidence.Heartdiseasewasoneofthefirst,eventhoughithassomethinglike300riskfactors,andsomemajorstudies(forinstance,thatofthecitizensofFramingham,Massachusetts,whichhasbeengoingon since1948)have shownnotonly that the linkwithsmokingisweak,butthatmoderatesmokershavelessheartdiseasethannonsmokers. More recently ithasbecomefashionable toblamesmokingfor justabouteverything,from‘cloggingup’ofthearteries(whichhappenstoeveryoneastheygetolder)toblindness(well,theycan’tblamemasturbationanymore)toAIDS.Ithasalsobecomefashionable,everytimeasmokerdies,totrytofindawaytoblametheirdeathonsmoking. Recentmediascareshaveclaimedthatsmoking‘may’causeimpotenceorinfertility.Butpeoplesmokedmoreduringthetwoworldwarsthanatanyothertimeinhistory,andwhatdidwehaveinthe1950s?Ababyboom!Otherscareshavefoundtheirwayontocigarettepackets.‘Smokingcausesageingoftheskin’saysone.Well,maybe,forsomepeople,butthereareclearlymoreimportantfactors.Likethesun.Andageing. Thefactisthatmanystatisticsaboutsmoking(andespecially‘secondhand’smoke)aresimplymadeup.Forinstance,untilcervicalcancerwasrecentlyproventobecausedbyavirus,acompletelyrandom13%ofcaseswereattributedtosmoking.Manyoftheestimatesofsmokingdeaths are produced by one computer program. It’s called SAMMEC (Smoking AttributableMorbidity,Mortality,andEconomicCost)anddependingonwhichdatayoufeedin,andwhichyouleaveout,itcanproduceprettymuchanynumberyouwant. Thegreatthingaboutthe ‘smoking-relateddisease,’ isthat itallowsyoutocreatetheperceptionofaragingepidemic.TheUKgovernmentsaysthat100,000or120,000deathsperyear (dependingonwho is speakingat the time) are causedby ‘smoking-relateddisease’. Theimpressiongivenisthatthesearealldeathsspecifically,andprovably,causedbysmoking,butitisnosuchthing.Itincludesnonsmokerswhodieofbronchitisorstrokes,andsmokerswhodieofheartattacksintheir80s.Itincludespeoplewhoquitsmokingdecadesbefore.Itisnotexactlylying,butitisdeliberatelymisleading,itisfearmongering,andinmyopinionthesepeopleshouldbeashamedofthemselves.THEDOSEMAKESTHEPOISON

Thisisanold,butoftenignored,scientificaxiom.Whatitmeansisthattherearesafeandunsafelevelsofeverything.Alittlebitofarsenicisjustfine.Asignificantlylargeamountoforangejuicecouldkillyou.Butantismokersarenowtryingtosellusascientificabsurdity:thatsmokingisdangerousat any level.

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Itwouldseemobviousthatthere’sabigdifferencebetweensmokingfiveadayandfiftyaday.Heavenforbid,though,thatweshoulduseourowncommonsense.Infactthereisagreatdealofevidencethatmoderatesmoking-uptoabouttenaday-isnotharmful,andindeedhasclearbenefits.Apartfrompleasure(whichcurrentmedicalthinkingdeemsirrelevant)itrelievesstress,helpswithweightcontrol,andprotectsagainstorrelievesthesymptomsofquiteafewdiseases, includingAlzheimer’s,Parkinson’s,ulcerativecolitis,andcancersoftheintestinesandwomb.Severaldoctorshaveadmittedthistomeinprivate,butyouwon’thearitfromthemedicalinstitutions and lobby groups who have worked so hard to build smoking into Public HealthEnemyNo1. AcoupleofyearsagoIhadthepleasureofmeetingwiththelateDrKenDenson,headoftheThameThrombosisandHaemostasisResearchCentreinOxfordshire,whowasarareandinspiringobjectortowhathecalledtheantismoking ‘witchhunt’.DrDensonhaddevotedtenyearstoresearchingsmoking,andpublishedseveralmedicaljournalarticleseloquentlyarguingthattheevidence,iflookedatimpartiallyandin total,wasequivocal.Hehadunearthedcountlessstudiesshowingthatchangesindietcouldoffsetanyrisks,thatmoderatesmokerswhoexercisedhadlessdiseasethannonsmokers,andsoon,andsimplywantedtoknowwhysuchstudieswereignoredwhileanythingappearingtoshowtheslightestriskwastrumpetedfromtherooftops.InDrDenson’sview,doctorswerefailingsmokersbypreachingzero-toleranceinsteadofbalanceandmoderation.Healsosuggestedthatwetalkabout‘smokers-related,’ratherthan‘smoking-related’diseases,sinceamajorityofsmokershavetendedtohaveoverallunhealthylifestyles. InBritainwe’renowbeingtoldthattheworkingclassandpoorhavemuchmorediseasethanthemiddleclass,andthemainreasonissmoking.Butpoorerandless-educatedpeoplearemorelikelytogetpoorhealthcare,havebaddiets,drinktoomuch,worktoohard,exercisetoolittle,bemoreaffectedbystressandpollution,etcetc…allfactorsin‘smoking-related’diseasewhichareimpossibletoseparatefromsmokingitself.YoucanalwayssingleoutsomethingastheCurseoftheWorkingClasses.In1920sAmericaitwasbooze;nowit’stobacco.P.A.S.(PATHETICADDICTSYNDROME)

Antismokerstellusthatpeopleonlysmokebecausetheyare‘addictedtonicotine’,andthatmostsmokersactuallywanttoquit.Butmostsmokersenjoysmoking,andfewpeoplewanttoquitsomethingtheyenjoy.Nagandfrightenthemenough,though,andyoucancertainlygetthemtobelievethattheyshould. ‘Addiction’isnotaclearly-definedscientificterm,andit’sveryhardtoseparate‘addictions’fromhabits,rituals,orpleasuresthatweconstantlyrepeatbecausetheyare,well,pleasurable.Probably everyone is ‘addicted’ to something: alcohol, sugar, caffeine, drugs both legal andillegal,sex,television,dieting,gambling,shopping,computergames,football,cars,orthegym.Ofcourse,Irecognisethatsomepeoplefindithardtobemoderate.ButIthinkthisisaquestionofpersonality,orperhapsgeneticpredisposition,ratherthanthe‘fault’ofthesubstanceinquestion-orwhoeversoldittoyou. TheElizabethanswhowerethefirstEuropeansmokersobservedthattobaccocouldbecomeahabitwhichsomefoundveryhardtobreak.But,asIainGatelypointsoutinhisexcellenthistoryoftobacco,La Diva Nicotina,theywouldhavebeenbaffledbyourconceptof‘addiction’,sincetheybelievedthatallhumanbeingsweregrantedbyGodthegiftoffreewill.Theideathatamancouldbeenslavedbyaplantwouldhaveseemedtothemabsurd.Imustconfessthisviewmakesmoresensetomethanthefashionablecontemporaryonewhichseeshelplessvictimseverywhere,allneedingtobeprotectedeitherfromthemselvesorfromevilforcessuchastobaccocompanies-who,conveniently,canthenbesuedforlargesumsofmoney. Nicotineisnotharmful.Itisanaturallyoccurringsubstancepresentnotonlyintobaccobut,forinstance,tomatoes.Thepotentiallyharmfulingredientsinacigarettearetarandcarbonmonoxidecreatedbycombustion,alongwithvariousothercommoncarcinogensandpoisonsatinfinitesimallevels.(Notetoyouex-hippieswho’vejumpedontheanti-tobaccobandwagon:this

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isalsotrueofothersmokeables).Anyway,ifnicotineisdangerous,whyoneartharedoctorstryingsohardtosellittousintheformofpatches,gumsandinhalers?(Thatquestionactuallyopensupsomethingofacanofworms,asweshallseelater.) Antismokershavetokeeppushing‘addiction’sincetheyeithercannotbelieve,orcannotadmit,thatpeoplenotonlyfreelychoosetosmokebutenjoyit.‘Addiction’alsoworkstofurtherstigmatise smokersbyportrayingusascontemptible junkies.Ofcourse, if you’re smokingoutofpurecompulsionandaren’tevenenjoyingit,Iwouldsayyoumightaswellquit.Afterall,ifyou’regoingtodosomethingwhichnotonlyhaspotentialhealthrisksbutincreasinglygetsyoutreatedlikedirt,thenyoumayaswellatleastgetsomepleasurefromit.Butmanythousandshavequitoftheirownaccord,andmanyothersaresmokingmoderately,oronlyatcertaintimes,orswitchingtocigars.Imeetthesepeopleallthetime,butaccordingtoantismokerstheydon’texist.IpersonallyonlysmokewhenI’mhavingadrink.PerhapsIdon’texisteither.

HOWTOBEHEALTHY

Ithinktherearetwodifferentapproachestolivingahealthylife.Oneistotryveryhardtoavoideverythingwhichcurrentopinionholdstobebadforyou,beguidedby‘experts’andstatistics,feelveryguiltyaboutanyhumanimperfection,andgenerallybelievethatifyouworkhardenough,youcanachieveinvulnerability.ThisisveryAmerican.Theotheristoenjoyyourself,bereasonablymoderate,bescepticalofthe ‘experts,’and letthechipsfallwheretheymay.Thisapproach ismoreEuropean-orusedtobe.Thesearebroadstereotypes,butthey’rebothreasonableandmostpeoplearedrawnmoretoonethantheother.Theproblemcomeswhenthefirstgroupstartstodictatetothesecond.Especiallywhenthere’snorealproof,thateitherapproachworksbest. Ibelievethewaragainsttobaccoispartofabroaderefforttoturnusawayfromtraditionalpleasures, cures, and comforts, and to turn us into consumers of therapies and technical, orpharmaceutical,alternatives.Wehave,forinstance,becomeoverwhelmedbyabstruseclaimsandcounter-claimsonthesubjectofnutrition.Thirtyyearsago,wedidn’tevenhearabout‘nutrition’;insteadwehadsomethingcalledfood,whichhadworkedprettywellforthousandsofyears.Nowweallflailaroundinaminefieldofpolyunsaturatedfats,antioxidants,aminoacids,Omega-3,etcetc,soconfusedaboutthebasicbusinessoffeedingourselvesthatweareincreasinglyrelianton‘experts’toguideus.Thisisgoodbusinessforthe‘experts’,buttherestofushavejustendedupwithnotonlymorestressandanxiety,butmoreobesityanddiabetes. Iwanttofurtherexplorethebiggerpicturelaterinthisessay,butwhatI’msuggestinghereisthatantismokersare,amongotherthings,usingtobaccoasascapegoatforhealthproblemswhichhavemuchmoretodowithdietandotherfactors.Iacceptthatthereisanelementofriskinsmoking.But‘SmokingKills’isameaninglessstatement,sinceyoucannotprovethatsmokingisthespecificanduniquecauseofanyone’sdeath,andthevastmajorityofevenheavylong-termsmokerslivetonormaloldage-aswecanseefromourownexperienceifonlywestopallowingourselvestobemesmerisedbystatistics. Ialsodon’tthinkIshouldbecoercedintoquittingsmoking,anymorethanIshouldbecoercedintobecomingavegetarianorateetotaller,eventhoughI’dhavealower‘increasedrisk’ofcoloncancerinthefirstcaseandliverdamageinthesecond.Wearebecomingastrangelyrisk-averseculture,andinstrangelyselectiveways.Everyprescriptiondrughaspotentiallynastyside-effects,whichkillthousandsofpeopleeveryyear;butifwehaveapain,orevenjustfeelsad,weshrugourshouldersandtakethem.Thousandsofpeopledieeveryyearinroadaccidents,yetweshrugourshouldersandgetintoourcars.Whenanyriskisassociatedwithapleasure,though,westruggletorelinquishthatpleasure,andweturnlifeintoastressed-outobstaclecourse. Thisisperverse.Humanbeingsarepleasure-seekingcreatures.Whatismoreconducivetohealth:pleasureorfear?Pleasureandfreechoicearenotjust‘niceworkifyoucangetit’;theyarecrucial.Ourdoctorsandpoliticiansseemtohaveforgottenthis,andarebecomingmean-spiritedanddictatorialasaresult.

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TWO

THEHOLYGRAIL

Againandagain,smoke-haterstellusthatnoonehastherightto‘inflict’smokeonthem.Butwe all have things ‘inflicted’ on us every day - pollution, carcinogens, smells, noise - which,unliketobaccosmoke,areveryhardtocontrolbyventilationorsegregation.Perhaps,ratherthanconstructing a self-righteous moral argument, we should be asking whether something is, inreality,doingusanyharm. ‘Secondhand smoke’ - also known as ‘passive’ smoke or, from now on in this essay,environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) -has alwaysbeen theantismokers’HolyGrail. If it couldbeproven-evenjustperceived-tobeharmful,thenallthesmoker’sargumentsaboutrights,choice,toleranceandsoon,couldbeblownaway.Duringthe1970s,themorepoliticallysavvymembersoftheantismokingmovementstartedtalkingaboutaneedtoshowthattobaccosmokewashurtinginnocentbystanders.Theywerebecomingincreasinglyfrustratedthat,despitetheirwell-publicisedscientific(andpseudoscientific)revelationsabouttheevilsoftobacco,anddespitevariousantismokingcampaigns,increasedtaxation,andmoreandmorerestrictionsonthetobaccoindustry,peoplehadthenervetokeeprightonsmokinginlarge(thoughdecreasing)numbers.AtaWorldHealthOrganisationconferencein1975,formerBritishChiefMedicalOfficerSirGeorgeGodberannouncedthat: “It would be essential to foster an atmosphere where it was perceived that active smokers would injure those around them, especially their family and any infants or young children who would be exposed involuntarily to ETS.”Antismokersthenstartedactivelylookingfor ‘proof’.Oneofthefirststudiestheyseizedupon,in1981,wasthatofProfHirayamainJapan,whichshowedapossibleriskfromETS.Althoughtheriskwastrivial,themethodologywasdubious,andthedirectorofHirayama’sownInstitutecautionedagainst takingthestudytooseriously, itwasseenas ‘encouraging,’andETSstudiesstarted toproliferate rapidly.By1990 thewell-knownAmericanantismokingactivist StantonGlantzwasabletodeclare: “The main thing the science has done on the issue of ETS, in addition tohelp people like me pay the mortgage, is it has legitimised the concern that people don’t like cigarette smoke. And that is a strong emotional force that needs to be harnessed and used. We’re on a roll, and the bastards are on the run.”

WHEREARETHEBODIES?

Ihaveabsolutelynodoubtthat‘secondhandsmoke,’asanyofusmightexperienceitinreallife,doesnothurtanyone,exceptperhapsinveryextraordinarycases.Theproblemwith‘my’sideofthisargumentisthatittakesabitofefforttounderstand,andabitoftimetoexplain,whereasantismokershavesnappysoundbites(‘SecondhandSmokeKills!’).Youreallydon’thavetobearocketscientist,though,andalltheevidenceisreadilyavailableonline.BothFORESTandFORCESInternational, for instance, have on their websites the full downloadable details of every ETSstudyeverdone(seethelistattheendofthisessay).I’llleaveittothem,andotherresearchers,toexplaininmoredetail,butthemainpointsinanutshellare: (1)Lousy Methodology.PeopleassumethatETSstudiesareproducedbynobleandbrilliantmeninwhitecoatswhohaveinfalliblewaysofknowingthings-wayswhichwecannotpossiblyunderstand.Butit’ssimplynotpossibletoisolateandmeasurethelong-termeffectonindividualsoftobaccosmokeintheair.ThusmostETSstudiesarestatisticaljunkscience,basedongivingpeoplesillyquestionnairesaskingthemtorecallwhosmokedaroundthemduringtheirchildhood,howmuch,whetherthewindowswereopen,etc.Studiesarealsonotcorrectedfor‘confounders’,orconflictingfactors(forinstancethefactthatthenonsmokingspousesofsmokersinvariablysharethesamedietaryandother‘lifestyle’riskfactors).

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(2)Inconsistency.Atthiswriting,70studieshavebeendoneonETS.Sincemanyofthemcanbedividedintosub-categories(‘childhood,’‘spousal,’and‘workplace’)wecouldalsoexpressthegrandtotalas147.Ofthese,only24haveshownanyriskincrease.However… (3)Statistical Insignificance.Those24studieshavenotfoundanythingclosetothekindofproofwe shouldbe concernedabout. Thenumbers are so lowand sounreliable that theycouldeasilybeaccountedforbyawholerangeofconflictingfactors.Epidemiology(thestudyofthecausesofdisease) isnotconsideredahardsciencebecausesomuchofit isconjecture.Epidemiologistshaveanestablishedrulethatanythingunderaconsistentdoublingortriplingofrisk(ie200-300%)ismeaningless.Thismeansthattheoften-cited‘25%increasedrisk’ofdiseasefornonsmokersexposedtoETSisactuallyan insignificant increase on their already insignificant risk. (4)The Best Studies Prove Nothing.ThestudieswhichshowriskfromETSarenoteventhebestones.Thebiggestandmostscientificallycrediblestudiestodatearethe10-yearEuropeanonebytheWorldHealthOrganisation(publishedin1998)andthe39-yearCalifornianonebyProfs.EnstromandKabat(publishedbytheBritishMedicalJournalin2003).BothfailedtofindanyrealdangerfromETS(tobemoreprecise:theWHOadmitteditsresultswerenotstatisticallysignificant,thenburiedthemandstoppedtalkingaboutthem;EnstromandKabatconcludedthatsomeriskfromETScouldnotberuledoutbutwasessentiallytoosmalltomeasure). (5)High-Profile Studies Have Been Discredited. TheCalifornia smokingban - theonethatgottheballrolling-wasbasedonastudybytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencywhichwassuchatravestyofsciencethatitwasdeclaredinvalidandthrownoutbyaFederalCourt.ThoughtheEPAwasabletogetJudgeOsteen’sdecisionoverturnedbyarguingthatthehedidnothavejurisdictionoverthem,hisconclusionsaboutthesciencehaveneverbeenchallenged.Othermuch-hypedstudieshavebeencompletehoaxes;forinstance,theoneclaimingthatheartattacksinthesmalltownofHelena,Montana,decreasedrightafter,andbecauseof,asmokingban. (6)Selective Use Of Data.AntismokinggroupsperpetuatethemythofETSbycherry-pickingdatafromthefewstudiestheylike,andthenextrapolatingstatisticsfromthem.Manystudiesareactually‘meta-analyses,’inwhichcarefully-selectedpre-existingstudiesarecombinedandthestatistics‘stirredaround’abit.Theresultsarethenpresentedasa‘newstudy’. (7)Bias.VirtuallyallETSstudiesareproducedbygroupswithanavowedantismokingagenda,andaremostlyfinancedbypharmaceuticalcompanies,whichhaveavestedinterestingettingusallofffagsandontonicotinepatchesandantidepressants. (8) Where Are The Bodies? Estimates of thousands of deaths from ETS are based onstatisticalcomputerprojections.Thereisnotonedeathcertificate,anywhereintheworld,citingETSascauseofdeath.There is not even one documented case of death proven to have been caused specifically by ETS. Antismokers have been challenged over and over again to produce one, and have refused every time.Theynowsaysimplythattheirpositionis‘proven’andrefusetodebateitanyfurther. Statistically(herewegoagain)highercancerriskshavebeenfoundforeatingmushrooms,wearingabra,orkeepingapetbirdthanforETS.Abartenderhasamuchhigherstatisticalchanceofdyinginabicycleaccident,orfrombeingleft-handedandusingright-handedthings,thanheorshehasfromexposuretotobaccosmoke.IswearI’mnotmakingthisstuffup.

INTUITIONANDSUPERSTITION

Manypeoplenowbelieveit’sintuitivelyobviousthat‘passive’smokemustbeharmful,sincetheybelieve‘active’smokingtobesodeadlyinthefirstplace.Thisbringsmebacktothebeginningof this essay,when Imentioned that ETS immediately seemed tome, intuitively, tobehighlydubious. ButI’vetriedveryhardnottofallintothetrapofbelievingwhatonewantstobelieve.IbasemyconclusionsaboutETSonseveralyearsofrigorousresearch,andI’vefoundtheargumentsoftheresearcherswhobelieveETStobeafraudmuchmorethoroughandconvincingthanthose

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oftheantismokers,whichgenerallyfailtorisemuchabovethelevelof‘ETSkillsbecausewesayso.’TheWorldHealthOrganisation,forinstance,insiststhat‘ETSkills’eventhoughitsownmajorstudyprovedthatitdoesn’t.Thisisaclassicexampleofnotlettingthefactsgetinthewayofanagenda. Unfortunately,it’salsoabsolutelytypical.Theantismokingmovement-especiallysincethe‘discovery’ofETS-hascometoresembleafaith-based,evangelicalreligiousonemuchmorethanitdoesanythingtrulyscientific.Youarejustsupposedtobelieve,andnotaskanyawkwardquestions.Anyonewhodares todosomustbe in leaguewiththeDevil (ieBigTobacco).Anyhealthprofessionalwhoexpressesdoubtisbulliedintogettingback‘on-message’(thishappenedtoProfDollhimself,whenheadmittedinaradiointerviewthattheeffectofETSwassosmallitdidn’tconcernhim,andtoDrRichardSmith,formereditoroftheBritish Medical Journal,whenhedefendedEnstromandKabat). Anotherexample,amongmany:in2004theTobaccoManufacturers’Associationsponsoreda conferenceonETSat theRoyal Institution in London, atwhich several scientists spokeoutagainstthefraud,andrepresentativesofASHandotherantismokerswereinvitedtodebatethem.Notonlydidtheyrefusetodoso,theyalsopubliclyattackedtheRoyalInstitutionfordaringtohosttheeventatall.Ifhealthisthenewreligion,antismokersareitsSpanishInquisition. Ifit’snotextendingthemetaphortoofar,theUSSurgeonGeneralcouldbethePope,upholdingdogmaanddoctrinetothebitterend.SurgeonGeneralRichardCarmona’spartingshotbeforeheretiredin2006wastostatethat‘thedebateisover’aboutETS.Buthisreportaddednothingnew:justthesameold‘20-30%increasedrisk’,‘nosafelevel’,‘ventilationineffective’,andsoon,aswellasagreatdealofshamefulfearmongering(‘evidencesuggestspossiblelinksbetweenETSandbreastcancer’,etc)andscience-fictionstatistics.OfcoursetheSurgeonGeneralwantsustothink‘thedebateisover’;atruedebatehasnottakenplace,andifandwhenitdoes,alotofpeoplelikehimaregoingtolookprettybad.ETSistotheSurgeonGeneralwhatthoseIraqiweaponsofmassdestructionweretoPresidentBush.

NEEDLESANDSLEDGEHAMMERSGettingbackto‘active’versus‘passive’smoking:thelargeststudytodateonETSexposurewaspublishedbytheUSNationalCenter forEnvironmentalHealth,whichstudied10,000exposednonsmokers for levels of cotinine (a nicotine derivative thought to demonstrate the level oftobaccosmokeexposure).Themeancotininelevelofthenonsmokerswasfoundtobe1/500thofthatoftheactivesmoker.Andbytheway:(a)thereareothersourcesofcotinine,includingvegetables,and(b)showingthatpeoplehavesmallamountsofcotinineintheirbloodisnotthesameasdemonstratingthatit’sdoingthemanyharm. ProvinganythingatallaboutETSisliketryingtothreadaneedlewithasledgehammer.Forinstance,28studiestodatehaveshownmoreevidenceofriskreductionthanelevation.Soyoucould,ifitwerepoliticallyexpedienttodoso,constructanargumentthatETSisgoodforyou.It’snotimpossiblethatafewveryunluckypeople,exposedtoalotofsmoke,maybecomeillorevendie.Butsuchapossibilityexists ineveryinteractionbetweenhumansandanykindof substance.Whatpeopleneed tounderstand is that if youwant toprove somethingbadlyenough,andyoudoenoughstudies,andjugglethenumbersenough,youcan‘prove’justaboutanything.ButtoclaimthatETSisagravethreattopublichealthisdishonestfearmongeringonanoutrageousscale.Sowhyisithappening? Anyonewhoreallystudiestheevidencemustcometooneinevitableconclusion:thattheintentionisnottoprotectthepublicfromathreat,buttostigmatisesmokersandmakesmoking‘sociallyunacceptable’.You’dthinkantismokerswouldbegladthat‘passive’smoke,atleast,isn’thurtinganyone.Onthecontrary:toadmitasmuchwouldbetosurrendertheirmosteffectiveweapon.

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THREE

THENAKEDBAR

Atthiswriting,smokingbansareapoliticalfad,spreadingacrossNorthAmericaand,increasingly,Europe.Politiciansthesedayslovetobanthings.Inthecaseofsmoking,theyfigureitmakesthemlookgood(‘healthy!’)andthattherewon’tbetoomuchopposition(themajoritydoesn’tsmokeanddoesn’tcaremuch).As for thesmokers: they’refilthyandstupid, right?Whocaresaboutthem? Thereisalotofemotivenonsensetalkedaboutsmokingbans,andI’dliketotrytocutthroughsomeofit.Therearethreepossiblejustificationsforsmokingbans,andantismokersshufflebetweenthemlikeThree-CardMontesharks.Butnoneofthemstandsuptocloserscrutiny. (1)‘Some (or many) people don’t like smoke.’Sure,butthisisamatteroftaste,aswellas,arguably,fashion.(IrecentlycameacrossanarticlebypsychologistErnstDichterinwhichhestatesthatwhileeveryonelikesthesmellofsmoke,mostpeoplehavetoacquirethetaste.Itwaswrittenin1947.) Itismadnessforgovernmentstopasslawsonthebasisoftasteandfashion.Wherearetheysupposedtostop?Idon’tmindsmokeinapub,buttherearequiteafewthingsIdomind.Dogs(I’mallergictothem).BigTVscreens.Peopleshoutingintomobilephones.Loudmusic.Badmusic.Badbeer.CanIhaveabanortwoofmyown,please? Ifpeopledon’t likesmoke,ventilationshouldbe improved. Ifthat’snotenough,thereshouldbeseparaterooms,andifthat’snotenough,achoiceofsmokingandnonsmokingvenues.Butmattersoftasteandfashionareforthefreemarkettodecide,notthegovernment. Smokersmaybeaminority(albeitalargeone)butitisamisunderstandingofdemocracytosaythatthetastesofthemajorityshouldbeimposedoneveryone(ThomasJeffersonwarnedagainst‘thetyrannyofthemajority’).Anyway,Idon’tbelievethemajoritydoeswantsmokingbans;Ithinkthateveninthecurrentantismokingclimate,mostpeoplewould,ifgiventheoption,preferreasonableandconsideraterestrictionsandsomesortofchoice.SmokinghasbeenapartofBritishpubculture,forinstance,forhundredsofyears,andmostpeoplewhogotopubsarestillwillingtoacceptitsolongastheairisn’ttoosmoky,andsolongaspeoplewhoaretrulytraumatisedbysmokehavesomenonsmokingplacestogoto.Ihavesomesympathyforthesepeople,butforthemtoinsistthatsmokingbebannedineverypubinthecountryjustincasetheymaywanttosomedaygointooneofthemispureselfishness. Meanwhiletherearesomeofusforwhomabarcounterwithoutashtraysisnaked,andabarwhichforbidssmokingisjustnotabar.It’slikeafishandchipshopwhichforbidssaltandvinegar.Itisanabomination. (2) ‘Bans force people to cut down or quit’.Fromalibertarianpointofview,thisisaninappropriatepoliticisationofapersonalchoice.Fromapracticalpointofview,though,itdoesn’treallywork.Smokingisstilllegalandthehardcoresmokerswhoreally‘should’quit,don’t.Statisticsshowingadeclineinsmokingafterbanshavenotbeenveryimpressive,andinanycasearehardtoseparatefromtheongoinglong-termtrend.Irishsmokers,accordingtoonetobaccoindustrysource,aresmokingonelesscigaretteperday.InItaly,salesofcigaretteshaveactuallygoneup.Bansmaygetsomepeopletoquit,butitjustmakesmostofusangryanddefiant. Thereare,ofcourse,smokerswhowanttoquit,andwhosupportbanningsmokinginthebeliefthatitwillhelpthem.Theseguysarebelovedbyantismokersandgreatlyover-representedinthemedia.PersonallyIfindthembothratherpathetic(sincetheywantthestatetomaketheirdecisionsforthem)andselfish(sincethebanstheysupportaffectmillionsofothersmokerswhohavenointentionofgivingup).Withfriendslikethese,whoneedsenemies? (3) ‘The public, and especially employees, must be protected from ‘secondhand smoke’ in enclosed spaces’.Thisistheonlypotentiallyplausiblerationaleforbans,butit’sphoney,andmanyadvocatesofbansknowit.Evenifitweretrue,whyaretheyalsobanning,ortryingtoban,smokingoutsidebars,orinparksoronbeaches?Whenwasthelasttimeyouheardanantismoker

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apologising to smokers for the inconvenience, and trying to make sure we have comfortableoutdoorseatingwithheatlamps? Onthecontrary:someAmericanstatesortownshavebannedpeoplefromsmokingintheirowncars,andonthefrontporchesoftheirownhomes,andareencouragingpeopletocalltheauthoritiestoreport‘secondhandsmoke’driftingfromaneighbour’sgarden.Smokingroomsinworkplaceshavebeenshutdown,andsigns saying ‘NOSMOKINGWITHIN25FEETOFTHISENTRANCE’placedoutside.Workersarethenharassedfortakinglongercigarettebreaks.Smokerswho’vebeenchasedoutsidearealsoharassedformakingnoiseormess.Butoutdoorashtraysandpocketashtraysarenotpromotedbecausethiswouldbe‘encouragingsmoking’. Isn’t it obvious what’s going on here? Smoking bans are intended to make smokingas difficult and uncomfortable as possible, to make smokers look bad, and to advance whatantismokerscallthe‘de-normalisation’ofsmoking.

POPULARPROHIBITIONISM?

Antismokersclaimthatsmokingbansarepopularandgoodforbusiness.Asusual,there’sagrainoftruthintheirargument,whichisthatmanyplacesweretoosmoky,somanynonsmokers,eventhosewhoinitiallyopposebans,areprettyhappywiththeresultwhentheypass.Anyway,whenabanbecomeslaw-enforcedbysteeppenalties-peoplehavenotmuchchoicebuttomakethebestofit.Smokersaretoobeaten-downtoriotinthestreets.Thehospitalityindustrydoesnotcollapse.Smokingisn’ttheonlyreasonpeoplegoout. Nevertheless, there isnotone smokingbanwhichhas arisenoutofpopulardemand.Besides,iftherewerethatmuchdemand,lawswouldnotbeneeded.It’salsosimplynottruethatbansaregoodforbusiness.Certainlysomevenuesaresuccessfulattransformingthemselvesintodifferentkindsofvenues.Butbanshavecausedlossesofmoneyandjobsineverycity,stateorcountrythey’vebeenpassed,atleast,accordingtothepeoplewhooughttoknow-theoperatorsofbars,clubsandrestaurants. AnindependentsurveyoftheimpactofthefirstyearoftheNewYorkbanspecificallyonbarsandclubs, for instance, found lossesof2,650 jobs,$50million inearningsand$71.5millioningrossstateproduct(includingknock-oneffectsoneverythingfrombeerdistributiontojukeboxes).MayorBloomberg(anex-smokerturnedantismokingcrusader)claimsthehospitalityindustryisdoingbettersincetheban.Butheincludesin‘thehospitalityindustry’everythingfromhotelsandfast-foodjointstoliquorstores,andfailstomentionthatthebanwasintroducedjustasthewholecityeconomystartedtorecoverfromthedisasterof9/11.Similartrickshavebeenusedbyantismokerseverywhere. MeanwhilemanyNYbarsletpeoplesmokeillegally,buttheyallhavetodisplayanoticewithanumbertocall‘toreportviolations’-ie,‘raton’yourneighbours.TheUKgovernmentisproposingtodothesamething-withatoll-freenumber,noless.ThesearethetacticsoftheStasiortheKGB;ofregimeswithoutpopularsupportwhoarereducedtomakingcitizensfeareachother.

LIES,DAMNEDLIES,ANDPOLLS‘Antis’alsoclaimthatpollsshowpublicsupportforbans,butthisisgenerallydoneby:(1)scaringthepantsoffofpeopleoverETS,(2)gettingthemtoconcedethatpublicplacesandworkplacesshouldbefreeofthisscourge,and(3)classifyingpubs,clubsandrestaurantsaspublicplacesandworkplaces. Butapubisnota‘publicplace’.Itisnotsupportedbytaxes,norisanyonecompelledtoenter.Itisprivateproperty,andpublicanshavetherighttodecidetheirownpolicyonsmoking(ordogs,ormobilephones).Asforbeingaworkplace,thewholepointofnightlifevenuesisthat

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theyareplacestogetawayfromwork,andnottobenaggedlikenaughtyschoolchildren.Thefewpeoplewhoareworkingshouldbethereonthatunderstanding.Andevenifthereissomesmallriskinvolved,whycantheynotchoosetoacceptthatrisk,whenpeoplecontinuetoworkdownmines,onoilrigs,inlifeboats,fightingfires,andsoon?Amotorcyclecourierdoesmoredamagetohislungsinadaythanabartenderinaproperly-ventilatedclub.Besides;accordingtoapollinthePublicanmagazine,95%ofBritishbartendersareopposedtoabananyway. Ignoring such facts, antismokers practically squealed with delight when somerepresentativesoftheUKhospitalityindustryactuallyjoinedinwithcallsforatotalban,ratherthansomesortofcompromise.Thereasonwhywasbrushedaside:theywereterrifiedthatanyplaceswhichcouldstillallowsmokingwouldhavean‘unfair’advantage. Ultimately,though,noargumentbasedonrights,freedomofchoice,economics,toleranceortradition,hasbeenallowedtostopsmokingbans.Theyarealloverruledbythedoctors-asthoughpubsarenowtobedefinednotonlyas ‘public’or ‘work’places,butashealthspasorclinics.Well,ofcoursedoctorswantsmokingbans.ButputtingthedoctorsinchargeofpublicpolicyislikeputtingtheplumbersinchargeofArchitecture.

GETTINGRIDOFSMOKE,NOTSMOKERS

Thegreatironyofthecurrentwaveofsmokingbansisthatthereisnolongeranyexcuseforasmokyenvironmentanyway,sincemodernair-cleaningsystemscancontinuallysuckoutsmoke(alongwithlessvisiblepollutants,allergensetc.)andrecirculatefreshair.Goodsystemsarewidelyavailable,andthebestcanmaketheairinasmokingvenuenoticeablycleanerthanfilthycityairoutside.Tobaccosmokeparticleshavebeenmeasuredatabout1micron;agoodsystemcanremoveeverythingdownto.30ofamicron.Testshaveshowntheairinasmokingvenuewithagoodair-cleaningsystemtobecleanerthantheairinanonsmokingvenuewithoutone.Thesmellisrenderedbarelynoticeable,oratanyrateprobablylessnoticeablethanthesmellofthefood,thebeer,orforthatmattertheothercustomers. None of this sits well with antismokers. Ironically, the smokier the atmosphere, thehappiertheyare,sinceithelpsthemtowhipupintoleranceandgetsmokingbanspassed.Theyhave,therefore,workedhardtokeepthesubjectofair-cleaningofftheagenda.Whenpressed,theyclaimthatnoair-cleaningsystemis‘goodenough’.JamesRepace,aprofessionalantismokingactivistintheUS,recentlystatedthatitwouldtake‘hurricaneforcewinds’toridabarofsmoke.Thisshouldsurpriseanyonewhohasevermanagedtoclearmostofitjustbyopeningawindow.Anyway,it’ssimplynottrue.Fairlystandardair-cleaningsystemsareconsidered‘goodenough’forlaboratoriesworkingwithtoxicchemicals,andforhospitalinfectiousdiseasewards;Ican’timaginewhythey’renotgoodenoughforabar. Sobewareofantismokerswhotellyouthatwhileair-cleaningsystemscanrendertheairless‘offensive,’theycan’tgetridofallsortsofnastytoxinsandcarcinogens.Thismay,technically,betrue,inthatnomatterwherewego,orwhatwedo,therearealwaystoxinsandcarcinogenswhichareimpossibletoremove.Butremember:‘thedosemakesthepoison’.Yes,tobaccosmokecontainsarsenic; sodoesyour tapwater. Tobaccosmokecontainsbenzene; sodoescoffee. Ineverycase,theamountsoftoxicchemicalsintobaccosmokearesonegligiblethatevenfrequentprolongedexposureisnotgoingtohurtyou.

THEREALDAMAGEIbelievesmokingbansaredoinggreatdamage,andnotonlyeconomicdamage.Theypromoteintolerance, social tensionanda ‘stoolpigeon’culture.Theyostracisea largeand law-abidingsegmentofthepopulation.Theysetaworryingprecedentforallkindsofothersocialengineering.AndtheybringNannyintoNightlife:thelastplaceshebelongs.

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ButIamfranklytiredofseeinglibertarianargumentsagainstsmokingbansscornfullyrejectedbytheETSfear-mongers.Therealissueisthat,nomatterwhattheSurgeonGeneralsays,the only plausible rationale for such bans is false. Ifitisn’t,and‘secondhandsmoke’reallyisamajorpublichealthhazard,thentobaccoshouldbemadecompletelyillegal,tostopusmurderingourfamilies,petsandhouseplantstoo.IfETSisreallythatbad,thentobaccoisworsethanheroinorcocaine.I’veneverheardofanyonedyingfrom‘passiveinjecting’or‘passivesniffing’.IfthefeebleevidenceonETSjustifiesbanningsmokinginabar,weshouldalsobebanningmusic(sinceitmightgettooloudanddamagesomeone’shearing)andthecookingoffood(sincecooking,especiallygrillingorfrying,producescarcinogens). Theworstdamagecausedbysmokingbansisthedamagetothetruth.AccordingtoDr.ElizabethWhelan,Presidentof theAmericanCouncilonScienceandHealthandno friendoftobacco: “The role of ETS in the development of chronic diseases is without scientific basis. There is no evidence that any New Yorker - patron or employee - has ever died as a result of exposure to smoke. The link between secondhand smoke and premature death ... is a real stretch.”

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FOUR

BECAUSETHEYCAN

A year or two ago I stayed in a hotel in Florida in which every room was nonsmoking, andfestoonedwithbignoticesthreateninganyonewhosmokedwitha$200‘cleaningfee’.WithmymindbogglingasIimaginedallthevilethingsIcoulddowithoutincurringsuchapenalty,Iaskedthemanagertoexplain.TheFloridasmokingbanonlyappliestoplacesservingfood,andcertainlynottohomes-andwhileIwasinFlorida,myroomwasmyhome.Iwastoldsimplythatthiswasthepolicy,andtreatedfromthenonwithuttercontempt. BackintheUK,IwenttotakeatrainfromLondontoPortsmouth,myhometown,andsawanoticesayingthattheonesmokingcompartmentonthetrainwasbeingscrappedbecauseofanaccidentinvolvingcigaretteashsomehowgettingintotheair-conditioningsystem.TherewasaphonenumbertocallifIwishedto‘discuss’this.Theconversationwentasfollows:ME:I’mcallingtoaskwhyyou’rescrappingthesmokingcompartment.SOUTHWESTTRAINSEMPLOYEE(soundingverysurprised):Yes,that’sright,allourtrainswillbecompletelynonsmokingasfromJuly.ME:Butisitreallybecauseofoneaccident?Whatareyougoingtodoifyouhaveanaccidentinvolving...say,asuitcase?Orabicycle?Orifsomeoneburnsthemselveswithhotcoffee,areyougoingtobancoffee?STE:Oh ...well ...actually that’snot themainreason.Themainreason is, themajorityofourcustomerstellustheypreferanonsmokingenvironment.ME:Butthemajorityofthetrainisanonsmokingenvironment.There’sonlyonesmokingsection,consistingofhalfacarriage,andthereare,what,atleastsix,sometimeseightortencarriages?STE:Yessir,Iseewhatyoumean,butourpolicyisnownonsmokingthroughout.ME:Well,ifthepolicyisalreadydecided,whydoyoubotherputting‘callthisnumbertodiscuss’ontheposter?Imean,there’snothinganyonecandoaboutit,right?STE:Look...God,I’msickofthis.I’mactuallyasmokermyself!ME:Really?STE:Yes,andIhavetoanswerthesecalls...well,therearen’tmanycalls,actually,becauseyou’reright,there’snothinganyonecandoaboutit.Itmakesmesick,tobehonest,butwhatcanyoudo?I’mreallysorry. ThesestoriesareactuallyprettymildcomparedtosomeI’veheardfromsmokerswho’vebeensubjectedtoeverythingupto,andincluding,physicalviolence.Butthepointinbothcasesis that people are banning smoking not because they have anything to do with the medicalestablishment,orbecauseofanylegalobligation,butjustbecause they can.

KICKERSANDSPITTERSInanearlierversionofthisessay,Isuggested,facetiously,thatperhapssmokersshouldbeputinthestocks,tobepeltedwithrottenvegetables.Onreflection,there’sagoodanalogytobedrawnthere.Inthedayswhenpeoplewereputinthestocks,citizenswereallowed,evenencouraged,tokickandspitonthemastheypassedby.Now,itmaybethatthereweresomeprettybadguysinthosestocks.Butdon’tyouhavetowonder,justalittlebit,aboutthoselaw-abidingfolkwhorelishedtheopportunitytodoabitofkickingandspitting,allthewhilewearingahaloofself-righteousness? Smokersarenowbesetbykickersandspitters.Why?ApsychiatristIknowsuggeststhatpeopleareprojectingtheirfearandhatredofcancerontosmokers.I’mmoreinclinedtothinkthereisalurkingneedinsocietytohavesomeminoritytobeatupon,andfeelsuperiorto,now

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alltheotherminoritiesareoutofbounds.Whateverthereason,it’sopenseasononus,andnogratuitous restriction or insult is considered out of bounds. One British newspaper columnistrecentlydescribedsmokingas‘masturbatinginpublic’.Eventhedeadarenotexemptfromabuse.WhenLeonardBernsteinandJohnnyCarsondiedoflungcancer,aged74and79respectively,theywerecruellytakentotaskbytherabidlyantismokingNew York Timesfordeprivingtheirfansofacouplemoreyearsoftheirpresence.Thechain-smokingChineseleaderDengXiaopingwasexcoriatedasa‘badexampletoyouth’whenhediedaged92. Oneofthemeanestmythsofall,inmyopinion,istheonethatsmokersareputtinganunfairburdenonhealthservicesbecauseourdiseasesare‘self-inflicted’.Thinkaboutthisforaminute.Justabouteverydiseaseyoucanthinkofcouldbesaidtobe‘self-inflicted’.WhataboutAIDS?Whataboutpeoplewhohaveheartattackswhilejogging?Thisargumentcanbeextendedad infinitum,andindeedthisisalreadyhappening,withpeoplebeingdiscriminatedagainstforbeingoverweight,andhealthauthoritiesseekingmorepowertoenforcewhattheyconsidertobehealthylifestyles,andtoactuallywithholdtreatmentfromthosewhodon’tcomply. Anyway,thesearethesamepeoplewhotellusthatsmokersdieyounger,inwhichcasewe’resaving thestatemoney.Andfinally,areweforgettinghowmuchsmokerscontribute intaxes? In theUK, thisamounts to roughly£10billionayear.Smokersarenotaburdenbutabenefit. Butthesheernastinesstowardssmokersonthepartoftheantismokingmovementanditscorporateandmediabandwagon-jumpersisoneofthethingsthatmademesuspiciousoftheminthefirstplace.Ifamedicalauthorityadvisesmethatsmokingmaybebadformyhealth,itcouldbearguedthatthey’rejustdoingtheirjob.Whentheystartcallingmestupid,pathetic,antisocial,filthy,stinking,etc,thensomethingelseisgoingon.Itseemstomethey’reeither(a)betrayinganaestheticbiaswhichshouldnotbetheirconcern,butcertainlyhelpsexplaintheirzeal;or,(b)tacitlyadmittingthatsmokinghassuchapowerfulappealthathonesthealthwarningsarenotenough. There are reasons for this antismoking hysteria, though, which go beyond fashion orprejudice.

EVILEMPIRES(1)

Notsolongago,tobaccocompaniessponsoredevents,generatedenormousadvertisingrevenue,and were generally seen as pillars of the community. Then came the US Surgeon General’sdeclaration that smoking was a cause of cancer. For quite a while, Big Tobacco fought back,but theycouldn’tprovethat theirproductsweren’tcausing lungcancer (anymorethantheiropponentscould, in reality,prove that theywere)and judgesweremore inclinedtosidewiththeSurgeonGeneral.Asthelawsuitsstartedgoingagainstthem,BigTobaccosteadilywentfromdenialtocapitulation. Finally,in1998,thetobaccocompaniescutadealwiththeirenemiescalledtheMasterSettlementAgreement.Thisobligesthemtoraisetheirpricesandpassonthemoneydirectlytoantismokingcampaigns;ceaseadvertising;closedowntheirPRandresearchdepartments;turnoveralltheirdocuments;andgenerallybecomemodelcitizens.Inreturntheygotsomeimmunityfromfurtherlawsuits,butotherwisenotmuchmorethantherighttostayinbusiness. Iamnogreatfanofthetobaccoindustry.I’mquitesuretheyhavetheirfairshareofliarsandcrooks.Butthey’vebeenvictimisedonanincredible,evenunconstitutional,scale.Theymaywellbefundamentallycynical,inthattheyhavenosocialormoralobligations;theyexisttomakemoney.Butthat’strueofanycorporation. AlongwiththetrialsofBigTobaccocametherealisationthatitcouldbemoreprofitable,bothfinanciallyandpolitically, tobeanti-thanpro-smoking.Lawyers, taxauthorities,andallkindsofhealthlobbygroupslookingforfunding,havegotteninontheactasmoreandmore

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moneyhasbeenmadeavailablefor ‘tobaccocontrol’ (around$880millionperyear intheUSfromtheMSAalone).Andnopoliticianwantstobeseenas‘anti-health,’orasanapologistforBigTobacco,who,nomatterhowcompromisedtheyare,arestillportrayedasaninsidiouslypowerful‘evilempire’.Everymovementneedsavillain.

EVILEMPIRES(2)

JustasNatureabhorsavacuum,otherinterestshavemovedintosomeofthespacesleftbyBigTobacco.Foremostamongtheseisonewhosewealth,powerandinfluencearenowsoaringtoheightsunimaginable20or30yearsago:BigPharma,orthepharmaceuticalindustry. Itneverceasestoamazemethatpeopledonotseethevestedinterestsonbothsidesofanydebateabouttobacco.Ofcourseargumentsshouldbejudgedontheirownmerits.ButifantismokersaregoingtomakesomuchoftheBigTobaccoconnection-tothepointofbrandingalldissent‘tobaccoindustrypropaganda’whetherornotthereisanyconnection-thenitshouldatleastbenotedthattheytooareopentoaccusationsofbias. Thereareover1.2billionsmokersintheworld.Convincethemallthatsmokingkills,andthattheyareaddictsneedingtherapeutichelp,andyouhaveacolossalmarketforpharmaceuticalnicotine, in the form of patches, gums and inhalers. Smokers are also a target market forantidepressantdrugs. Soit’snocoincidencethatBigPharmaisnowamajordrivingforceoftheantismokingmovement.JohnsonandJohnson,throughitsRobertWoodJohnsonFoundation,hasspentover half a billion dollarsonantismokingcampaigns.Muchoftheresearchcitedbyantismokers isfinancedinonewayoranotherbypharmaceuticalcompanies.Therearecountlessexamplesofdrugcompaniesrewardingpoliticianswhotakeanantismokingstance:Novartis,amakerofnicotinepatches,isadonortotheUKLabourparty,andhasbeentryingtoworkwiththegovernmenttomaketheirproductsavailablethroughtheNationalHealthService,whilethehealthministerresponsible for the Italian smoking ban is currently on trial for corruption involving Pharmapaybacks.

EVILEMPIRES(3)

Anotherdrivingforce intheantismokingmovement is theWorldHealthOrganisation,abodywhoseveryname,tomostpeople,commandsawedrespect,butwhichisquiterightlyprovokingmoreandmorecriticismfromthosewholookabitmoreclosely.TheWHOwascreatedin1948bytheUnitedNationstofightcommunicablediseaseandmalnutrition,especiallyinthedevelopingnations which really need such help. Recently, though, its priorities have shifted to tackling‘lifestyle’ issues such as smoking, diet, obesity, and road safety, mostly in prosperous Westerncountries.ThesearethecountrieswheretheWHOhasitsofficesandstaff(itsHQisinGeneva)anditnowspendsanastonishingthree-quartersofitsbudgetjustonkeepingthemafloat. ThesearealsothecountrieswheretheWHOhastogetitsfunding.Inrecentyearsithasdonethisby (a)panderingto thefashionablehang-upsof liberalmiddle-classAmericansandEuropeans,and(b)gettingintobedwithBigPharma.In1999theWHOcreatedthePartnershipProjectonTobaccoDependence.Itsofficialpartnersarethreemajorpharmaceuticalcompanies:GlaxoWellcome,NovartisConsumerHealth,andPharmacia&Upjohn.TheWHOisalsocloselytiedtotheInternationalMonetaryFund,manyofwhosedirectorsandadvisorsare,orhavebeen,directorsofandadvisorstopharmaceuticalcompanies. In2005,theWHOanditspartnerscreatedtheFrameworkConventiononTobaccoControl,whichhasbeensignedbyover100nations.Signatoriesareobligedtostoptobaccoadvertising,‘educate’peopleaboutthehorrorsofboth‘active’and‘passive’smoking,and‘protect’nonsmokerswithsmokingbans(thoughthedetailsaretosomeextentflexible).Thefactthatsuchactionscontravenetheconstitutionsofsomeofthecountriesinvolved,orthefactthattheWHO’sown

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researchfailedtofindanyrealdangerinETS,orthefactthateveninrelativelytobacco-phobicBritainthegovernment’sownOfficeforNationalStatisticsshowsthat68%ofthepopulationdoesn’twantasmokingban-nottomentionlegitimatequestionsabouthowmuchpoweranunelected,unaccountablebodyshouldhave-areallcompletelythrownaside.

WHYI’MBLOODYFURIOUS

Thiswhatitcomesdownto. Firstly,I’mbloodyfuriousthatI,aresponsibleadult,amforbiddentohaveasmokewithasocialdrink-anywhereinthecountry.Whatmakesmemorefurious,though,isthattheNationalHealthServiceisindisarray,withdoctorsandnursesbeinglaidoff,hospitalsclosing,andpeoplewaiting months for important surgeries; and yet they spend millions of pounds of taxpayers’money (my money!) on slick TV commercials, with Spielberg-esque special effects of sinistertendrilsof‘secondhandsmoke’envelopinginnocentvictims,tospreadfearandintoleranceandtodepictsmokerslikeme-withnogoodproof-asmurderers. I’m bloody furious that the USA fails to address major issues of terrorism, poverty,violentcrimeorenvironmentaldisaster,butspendswelloverabilliondollarsayearondishonestantismokingpropaganda. I’mbloodyfuriousthatAIDS,typhoidanddysenteryarerampantinthedevelopingworld,andthatmorethan2millionchildrenayeardiesimplyfromlackofaccesstocleanwater;yettheWorldHealthOrganisationspendsmillionstryingtobullythecomfortablecitizensofprosperouscountriesoutof theirpleasures,when thosecitizenswill live longandgenerallyhealthy livesanyway. I’mbloodyfuriousattheself-righteousnesswhichaccompaniesthecurrentantismokingclimatewhenitis,istoalargeextent,apoliticalandeconomicphenomenon.Theunprecedentedsuccessoftheantismokingmovementoverthelast7-8yearscorrespondsdirectlytounprecedentedinfusionsofcashfromtheMasterSettlementAgreementandtheWHO’spactwithBigPharma(in addition, of course, to punitive taxation and other less tangible forces such as ‘politicalcorrectness’).Quitesimply, thetobacco industryhasbeenoutmatchedbya richandpowerfulantismoking industry,whosetacticsareaboutasrighteousasthoseofthestreetfighterwho,havingknockedhisenemydown,proceedstogivehimadamngoodkicking. Everyprohibitionistmovementisessentiallyaboutpowerandprofit,dressedupashealthandmorality.Anytimeahumanpleasurecanbeshowntocarrysomerisk,thedoorsareopenedforthosewhowanttotax,sue,regulate, legislateanddiscriminate.ThestoryofAbsinthe,forinstance,parallelsantismokingeverystepoftheway:thesamepseudo-science,selectiveandout-of-proportionpropaganda,fearmongering,stigmatisationoftheuser,andlargelyunrecognisedvestedinterests(inthatcase,theFrenchwineindustry). Finally I’m bloody furious that ‘public health’ is rapidly accumulating powers whichtotallybypassthedemocraticprocess.Thiscanbeseenatmanylevels:MayorBloomberg’shealthinspectorshavepowerstoenterandsearchwhichexceedthoseofthepolice(theyhave,amongotherthings,raidedpeoples’privateofficesandfinedthemforthecrimeofBeingInPossessionOfAnAshtray).Butitgoesrighttothetop,withtheWHOdictatingpolicytodemocratically-electedgovernments.Thoughitmaystrikesomeasa‘conspiracytheory’,alltheevidencesuggeststhathealthauthoritiesandtheirpharmaceuticalalliesareestablishingasupra-nationalnannystatewhichwillincreasinglydictateourlifestyleswhetherwelikeitornot.

VALETUDINARIANFASCISM

ForthelastcoupleofyearsI’vebeengoingtoaLondongymwhere,whilerunningonthetreadmill,I’vebeenpresentedwithhoursofmusicvideos-onTVswithnosound.OK,someofthemarefun,buttheyallseemtobegovernedbystrictrules.Noonelooksolderthanabout25.Everyoneis

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slimandattractive,andthecameraslingerontheirsculptedabdominalmuscles.Thehigh-energydancingneverstops.EventuallyIrealisedwhythesevideosweremakingmeuncomfortable.TheywereremindingmeoftheNazipropagandafilmsofLeniRiefenstahl,inwhichgreatprocessionsofperfectyoungAryanspecimensperformedsportsandgymnasticstoinspiretheGermannation. Thentherearethe‘reality’and‘makeover’showsonTV,inwhichpeoplearehumiliatedintobecoming thinner, younger-lookingormore stylish. Sure, it’s good tobefit andhealthy.Butit’salsofashionableandnarcissistic,andweareindangerofbecomingasocietyofchronicvaletudinarians. Avaletudinarianissomeoneneuroticallyobsessedwiththestateoftheirhealth(aclosecousinofahypochondriac,whichissomeonewhoalwaysthinksthey’resick).Suchaconditionleavesusvulnerabletoallsortsofmanipulation,asdoestheparallelobsessionwith‘safety’.Theideaof‘zero-risk’isalsofashionable,butIbelievethatthemoreweareencouragedbyauthoritiestodemandit,themoreweareinfantilised.Amaturepersonshouldacceptthat‘zero-risk’isanillusion. Thesmokingissueispartofamuchbroaderone,inwhich‘publichealth’islessandlessabouthealingthesickandmoreandmoreaboutsocialengineeringofthewell.Andweplayrightalong.We’reallowingourpleasures,habits,quirksandimperfectionstoberedefinedassyndromesneeding (profitable) therapeutic intervention. We are constantly in search of scapegoats andpanaceas,andseem(particularlyintheUSA)toseelifeasaratherdesperategame,tobeplayedveryhard,withwhoeverlivesthelongestbeingthewinner.Thetroubleisthatwe’reforgettinghowtoenjoyplaying. HavewecreatedafertilegroundforaJihadagainsttobacco?Orisourcultureactuallybeingcreatedbyantismokersandsimilarcrusadersthemselves?Ithinkit’sprobablyabitofboth.Eitherway,itgivesmethecreeps.

INCONCLUSION

I’vepaintedaprettybleakpicturehere,andI’msuresomereaderswillthink:surelyit’snotthatbad.Well,perhapsitisn’t.Iadmit,forinstance,thatmanyantismokersarewell-intentioned.ButIhavetocallitasIseeit:manyarealsoignorant,naïve,prejudiced,orjustplainbullies.Someoftheworstaretheex-smokers,whocompensateforthelossofalovebyturningitintoahate.Whatevertheirmotivations,though,antismokershaveusedfearmongeringandjunksciencetoturnmillionsofpeopleintoscapegoats,andtobuildapowerfulprohibitionistmovementwhichhasplaceditselfbeyondcriticismoraccountability. Itakesomecomfortinthebeliefthatwhilethey’rewinningmostofthebattles,theycan’tultimatelywinthewar.Youcan’t‘un-invent’tobacco,andtherewillalwaysbemanypeoplewholoveit.Abacklashwillsurelycome;evennowthereareglimmersofhope.TheDutchparliament,unliketheUKparliament,actuallyhadathoroughandopen-mindeddebateonETS,andin2005votedagainstasmokingban.Insteadthehospitalityindustrywillmanagetheintroductionofbetterventilationandmorenonsmokingareasby2009.Therewas,however,not one wordaboutthisintheUSorUKmedia. Inthenearterm,thingswillgetevenworsenotjustforsmokersbutforanyonewhoselifestylesorhabitsaredeemedtobe‘risky’or‘unhealthy’.Thoseofuswhowanttoresistneedtogeteducated.There’snopointinpleadingforour‘rights’;aslongaswe’reperceivedascommittingbothsuicideandmurder,wedon’thaveany.Whatneedstobeaddressedmuchmoreboldlyistheantismokers’scientificdishonesty,aswellastheirconflictsofinterest.Thesethingsareprovableinacourtoflaw. Inthemeantime,partyinwhateverspacestheyleaveyou,dowhateverittakestostaysane,andthanksforlistening.

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SMOKING,‘SECONDHANDSMOKE’ANDRELATEDISSUES:SOMESOURCESANDRESOURCES

www.forestonline.org:Long-establishedUKsmokers’rightsgroup,andtheonlyoneonthislistreceivingtobaccoindustryfunding.www.forces.org: FORCES International has chapters in the US, Holland, Denmark, Italy andGermany.Theirsitecontainsmassiveresearcharchives.www.smokersclubinc.com:Largesitewithtonsoflinkswww.davehitt.com/facts:ConciseexplanationoftheETSfraudwww.davehitt.com:Seethearticle“NameThree”www.antibrains.com:MichaelMcFaddens’ssite,anothergoodconcisesourcehttp://.pasan.TheTruthIsALie.com:PennsylvaniaSmokers’ActionNetwork;moreMcFaddenandoneofthemoreinterestingofsuchsiteswww.junkscience.com:Debunkersof‘scientific’scamsandscares,includingETSwww.freedom2choose.info:FightingtheUKban,withsomegoodarticleswww.sadireland.com:‘SmokersAgainstDiscrimination’(Ireland)www.cagecanada.ca:‘CanadiansAgainstGovernmentEncroachment’www.nycclash.com:FightingtheNewYorksmokingbanhttp://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com: Interesting blog by Dr Michael Siegel, an antismokerturnedcrtiticofthemovementhttp://cleanairquality.blogspot.com:Veryinformativeblog,withloadsoflinks,byanonsmokingventilation-systemsengineerwww.spiked-online.com:Skeptical/libertariansitewithsomegoodstuffonsmoking

BOOKSANDARTICLES

For Your Own GoodbyJacobSullum(FreePress/SimonandSchuster)Murder A CigarettebyRalphHarrisandJudithHatton(Duckworth,London)Slow BurnbyDonOakley(EyriePress)La Diva NicotinabyIainGately(ScribnerUK)Dissecting Antismokers’ BrainsbyMichaelJ.McFadden(AethnaPress)What Risk? Science, Politics and Public Health, edited by Roger Bate (Butterworth-Heinemann)Science Without SenseandJunk Food JudobyStevenMilloy(CatoIntstitute)Passive Smoke:TheEPA’sBetrayalofScienceandPolicybyGioBGoriandJohnC.Luik(FraserInstitute,Vancouver)Health, Lifestyle and Environment: Countering the Panic by Berger, Kristol, Le Fanu, et al.(ManhattanInstitute)Polluted SciencebyMichaelFumento(AmericanEnterpriseInstitute)The Tyranny Of HealthbyDr.MichaelFitzpatrick(Routledge)Culture Of FearandPolitics of FearbyFrankFuredi(Continuum)The Joy Of SmokingbySueCarrollandSueBrealey(JohnBlake,London)The Case Against Smoking BansbyThomasALambert:theCatoInstitute’sreport,downloadableat:www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv29n4/v29n4-4.pdfWho, What, Why? Trans-national Government, Legitimacy, and the WHObyRogerScruton(InstituteofEconomicAffairs)downloadableat:www.data-yard.net/87/scruton_who.pdfLies, Damned Lies, and 400,000 Smoking-Related DeathsbyRobertA.LevyandRosalindBMarimont:downloadableat:www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regu21n4/lies.pdf

smoke lies

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