The Irish Examiner recently published an analysis of the current legislative programme against Big Tobacco:
Senator John Crown (see previous post) got a mention. So too did Forest.
The article adds that, 'The introduction of a ban on smoking in cars "keeps Ireland at the forefront of the war [on tobacco]. Next month [March] is the nine-year anniversary of the ban on smoking in public buildings and workplaces — the first of its kind in the world'
Inadvertently the author may have put his finger on the root of the problem. Politicians, governments and political parties are constantly vying with one another to be "at the forefront" of the latest public health initiative.
If they can be first to introduce a new policy, however illiberal, so much the better. Who wants to be runner-up in the race to impose further restrictions? Everyone remembers New York (first city to introduce a comprehensive public smoking ban), Ireland (first country to do likewise) and Australia (first country to introduce plain packaging).
In years to come who will remember Chicago, Scotland or New Zealand?
The danger is that in trying to keep Ireland "at the forefront of the war" on tobacco, the likes of John Crown will set off the same domino effect that led to comprehensive smoking bans being introduced right across the British Isles – from Ireland to Scotland to Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
See: Big Tobacco hurt by legal and mindset changes (Irish Examiner)