I was on the Stephen Nolan Show on Five Live last night.
We were discussing the decision by an American court to order a tobacco company to pay the widow of a smoker who died of lung cancer in 1996 $23.6 billion (£13.8bn).
In addition to this punitive fine, the wife was awarded $16.8m (£9.8m) in compensatory damages. (See RJ Reynolds told to pay wife of cancer victim $23.6bn, BBC News).
I described the decision as "absurd" and the money awarded "obscene".
I pointed out that no-one, least of all in America, could have been in any doubt about the health risks of smoking for 40 or 50 years at least.
In the Second World War (if not the First) cigarettes were called "coffin nails".
In 1964 the US Surgeon General published the first federal government report linking smoking and ill health, including lung cancer.
Around the same time America became the first country in the world to put health warnings on cigarette packets, which was the start of tobacco control initiatives in the USA.
I also made a point about personal responsibility. Should obese people be allowed to sue junk food manufacturers? Should alcoholics be allowed to sue drinks companies?
Putting the opposing view was Amanda Sandford of ASH. Amanda tends to get these graveyard shifts (10.20 on a Sunday night) and she sounded less than pleased.
At one point, in response to my suggestion that she should go to the Forest Facebook page and read what smokers have to say about the issue, she said she didn't care what smokers thought.
Bizarrely she huffed that she was "going to bed" as soon as the interview was over.
I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that on air before – least of all a professional lobbyist!
Stephen Nolan is an excellent broadcaster and did what he always does. If he isn't playing devil's advocate he astutely withdraws from the conversation and allows his guests to battle it out amongst themselves.
The result can be a little chaotic, especially if we end up talking over one another, but at its best it can be quite entertaining.
Amanda was keen to stress the addictive aspect of smoking so I asked her if alcoholics should sue drinks companies for their addiction.
She wriggled a bit – tobacco is a unique product etc – but eventually said individuals should make up their own mind.
How sad that a representative of a taxpayer-funded pressure group seems to think addiction is a matter for the courts and avaricious, ambulance chasing lawyers.
In their eyes consumers – smokers, alcoholics, the obese – are "victims". The concept of personal responsibility (or willpower) is anathema to them.
Anyway, we finished our contretemps and Nolan invited listeners to phone in with their opinions. The first agreed with me and I decided to quit while I was ahead.
Following Amanda'a splendid example (but without announcing it to the nation) I switched off the radio and went to bed.