No Smoking Day and the power of addiction
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 13:49
Simon Clark

I've been quite busy this morning.

It's No Smoking Day which is not the big media event it used to be but I was asked nevertheless to do a number of interviews with local radio stations such as BBC London, BBC Humberside, BBC WM, BBC Tees, and BBC Sheffield.

BBC Tees presenter Mike Parr turned out to be an opinionated ex-smoker who, based on personal experience perhaps, wouldn't accept that not all smokers are addicted.

Parr welcomed the smoking ban because the absence of people smoking inside a pub removed temptation, or so he said.

I've never understood this argument. What about people smoking outside, or in the street? Isn't that a source of temptation too? So what do you do, ban smoking everywhere? ("Yes!" shrill the anti-tobacco lobby.)

Parr didn't like it when I suggested he might be just a little weak-willed, but when I mentioned that I wasn't a smoker it seemed to press a button in his head and he went on a bit of a rant.

I was going to respond but then I realised he had cut me off!

Meanwhile the behemoth that used to No Smoking Day stumbles on with few people taking it seriously.

This year it has been re-launched (and paid for?) by the British Heart Foundation. The slogan was 'Swap fags for swag'.

Am I missing something? Is this youth-speak? I haven't heard anyone use the word 'swag' since the 1960s. It has echoes of Dixon of Dock Green or even The Beano.

If you do quit smoking today good luck. I understand The One Show is doing an item on the subject because last week No Smoking Day tweeted:

Giving up smoking for @NoSmokingDay? @BBCOneShow wants your story. Contact craig.chambers1@bbc.co.uk.

We thought it might be a good idea if some people told Craig why they're NOT quitting. I don't know if anyone did but I'm sure it's not too late.

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