England’s Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies was in the news a few days ago.
Discussing e-cigarettes she told the Commons science and technology committee that vaping was “clearly much safer than tobacco smoking” and “If they help people stop ... I’d encourage [smokers] to use them.”
Bizarrely however she added that vaping should be restricted to people’s homes and gardens because she personally didn’t like having to breathe in “white clouds” of e-cigarette vapour.
According to the Daily Mail Dame Sally said she found it offensive.
It’s hard to know where to begin but earlier today I was invited to respond on The Wake Up Call, the BBC Radio Kent breakfast programme.
The item (‘Should we ban vaping in public places?’) begins at 52:10 and I’m interviewed from 54:25.
Given the time of day (6.55am) I think I was quite robust.
If I sound a bit bleary-eyed and breathless however it’s because my alarm didn’t go off at 6.00 and I only woke up when the BBC rang me to do the interview. Two minutes later I was live on air!
Update: David Newell has uploaded the interview on YouTube here.