Hark The Closet Tory...

Well, it looks as if the Government is going to ban smoking in pubs and restaurants from 2006. For me, that means an end to enjoying the pub, in the same way as a ban on smoking in cinemas meant I pretty much stopped going to see movies.

I understand and totally sympathise with anyone who has genuine health concerns about smoking. I have no beef with not smoking at the movies, neither do I have a problem with not smoking while people are eating. But while having a drink? That’s like saying no sniffing glue while you spike up with heroin.

There is nothing to reconcile the hypocrisy of banning one damaging activity while one is in the act of committing another.

Besides, this is not the real issue here.

There is no more a case for banning smoking than there is for banning crisps or drinking alcohol, and that’s what this is really about. It’s about denying people a right they once took for granted. With this ban in place, what is there to stop health officials from banning fatty foods or alcohol, further eroding a person’s right to live as they choose?

What I really resent is the nanny attitude that still exists within the Labour movement, where you pay taxes and national insurance all your life and then get shit from NHS doctors and politicians if you take up any part of the Health Services precious budget because of your diet or lifestyle.

These people have to be reminded again and again that the system only exists because of the money that we break our arses for in our shitty jobs every week.

This attitude that working class people don’t have the wherewithal to look after themselves and must have legislation designed to help them live longer rammed down their throats is grossly insulting, and likely to be the tip of the ice berg.

Why do they want us to live longer anyway, you have to ask yourself? So we can work longer and keep their sorry little racket going, that is why.

Nanny knows best, and while these Labour doyens enjoy an excellent quality if life on our dollar, they’re not worried about any health problems they might face in the future. They’re all members of BUPA.

The hypocrisy and arrogance displayed in this upcoming legislation is incredible and begs the question: “What are they going to ban us from doing next?”