Balance and the BBC

Postscript to last week’s news that the New Zealand government intends to ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2008.

The story broke overnight forcing us to play catch-up on Thursday morning.

Forest's reaction was reported by the digital Daily Express and MailOnline and I was also interviewed by Julia Hartley-Brewer on Talk Radio, Patrick Christys and Mercy Muroki on GB News, and Darren Adam on LBC.

The glaring omission on that list is the BBC.

I don’t know how other BBC programmes covered the subject, or whether they covered it all, but on Five Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake chose to discuss the issue with Hazel Cheeseman of the anti-smoking group ASH which hardly screams ‘balance’.

I was unaware of the interview until ASH tweeted a short clip. Forest’s response was to retweet it with the words ‘There are two sides to this debate' and tag @TherealNihal.

To be fair Arthanayake was quick to reply but his reaction was revealing. He declined to comment directly but instead tweeted a link to a page on the NHS website that reads:

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK. Every year around 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking, with many more living with debilitating smoking-related illnesses.

In response we wrote:

The health risks of smoking are very well known but this debate is also about freedom of choice and personal responsibility. Any chance you might give some airtime to that as well?

Clearly not because Arthanayake’s next tweet read:

Ok, just focus on this line then 'Every year around 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking.' and ruminate on that.

Having focussed (and ruminated) on that we replied:

Thank you, we are well aware of that, but there’s another side to this debate - freedom of choice & personal responsibility - that you overlook. Oh, and pleasure. Millions of adults enjoy smoking, despite the health risks, and don’t want to quit. Their views should be heard too.

His response to this read:

So to be clear, for the sake of balance, you want the chance to talk positively about something that the NHS says kills over 70,000 people a year?

To which we replied:

We aren’t denying the serious health risks associated with smoking but there are alternative and perfectly legitimate views on smoking that deserve to be heard on the BBC and elsewhere. Your listeners might find them interesting.

We then posted two links.

The first was to an article by artist David Hockney, 84, a confirmed smoker, who earlier this year gave an impassioned defence of smoking (Britain needs a cigarette) for UnHerd.

The second was a link to a 2004 BBC Newsnight film in which Hockney said of smoking, “It’s a serious subject because the subject is liberty” adding, “I smoke for my health, my mental health.”

Arthanayake didn’t respond to either so I don't know what he thought of Hockney's comments even though they reflect the views of many people, smokers and non-smokers alike.

What is depressing is that a leading presenter on a national BBC radio station appears to have set himself up as judge and jury on smoking and won’t acknowledge that a discussion on the subject is rather more complicated and nuanced that the bald statement that 'around 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking'.

It’s as if he has listened to one side (the prosecution) and decided that whatever case the defence might have it’s not worth listening to because the prosecution has already won the argument.

Indeed, if I understand him correctly (he may wish to correct me), Arthanayake seems to think that the health risks of smoking are so great that they outweigh any debate or discussion that might (shock, horror) offer a more positive/alternative view of smoking.

As readers know, Forest has never encouraged anyone to start smoking and we fully acknowledge the health risks associated with the habit.

Nevertheless we cling to the old-fashioned view that, in a liberal and mature society, the ability to make informed choices and take responsibility for our own health - especially when it involves known risk factors such as diet, alcohol and combustible tobacco - are principles worth fighting for, and discussing.

Also, just because over 70,000 people die from smoking every year (according to the NHS), it should not obscure the fact many of the seven million adults who still smoke enjoy their habit and don’t want to quit.

Like it or not, research shows that many people take pleasure from smoking. In fact, that’s a vital part of the conversation.

The question is, why would any broadcaster want to deny listeners that discussion?

PS. I was on Arthanayake's show once but it was several years ago and I've never been invited back. Was it something I said?!