There have been precious few opportunities since the smoking ban to debate the alleged impact of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), aka passive smoking or second-hand smoke.
There are two reasons for this. One, the tobacco control movement refuses to debate the issue. As far as they are concerned, they have won the argument so why risk the spoils of victory by engaging further on the subject?
Two, the war on tobacco has moved on from ETS to tobacco display, vending machines and, now, plain packaging. Consequently many people consider a debate about passive smoking to be yesterday's news.
Inadvertently, however, the Department of Health may about to give us a platform to re-engage with politicians and journalists on the subject.
Two weeks ago, in a written answer to a question about smoking, the Department of Health declared:
As set out in the Tobacco Control Plan for England, the Department [of Health] will launch a marketing campaign to remind smokers of the harms of second-hand smoke [my italics] and to encourage them to make their homes and cars smokefree. This campaign is in the early stages of development and is expected to launch in March 2012.
The tobacco marketing strategy, to be published shortly, will set out further details of how we will support efforts by local areas to encourage smokefree homes and cars ahead of the smokefree campaign. As with all Government communication and marketing campaigns, plans will be developed to evaluate its impact.
Now if that's not an invitation to discuss, debate and, yes, refute the alleged dangers of ETS I don't know what is.
PS. Another own goal? Increasing taxation doesn't encourage smokers to quit. Click on the link to comment.