tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post1680874847717360213..comments2023-10-17T15:56:22.827+01:00Comments on Velvet Glove, Iron Fist: Hands off our bottlesChristopher Snowdonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15963753745009712865noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-24135781582578987342014-08-11T21:24:38.026+01:002014-08-11T21:24:38.026+01:00Geoffrey. The war on smoking has most certainly no...Geoffrey. The war on smoking has most certainly not been won. The blitzkrieg has rolled over the trenches (the smoking ban) and made major advances (high taxes), but has now stalled. The Zealots are struggling to get their plain packaging against lots of opposition. They may get it, but it would not be a major victory because it does not actually affect smokers. <br />I was Magalluf, Mallorca, a couple of weeks ago and was able to observed hundreds of youn people roaming around. Some smoked, some didn't, but there was no indication of any 'feeling of shame' among the smokers. I got to speak to a couple of young women and, cutting a longer conversation short, I asked them how they cope with all the propaganda which is thrown at them. The answer was: "Well, it's life, innit?" I think that she meant that it is something that they get all the time about all sorts of things. Water off a duck's back. Junican https://www.blogger.com/profile/03405543859782362078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-41955981274611404272014-08-11T17:52:52.116+01:002014-08-11T17:52:52.116+01:00Yes, the slippery slope is steepening! We must now...Yes, the slippery slope is steepening! We must now expect 'plain'packaging on alcohol, on butter, on crisps, on cakes and biscuits, on cars, on condoms.<br />It is inevitable that, with the war on smoking now won. the control freaks must move on to new targets. That's the only way they can continue to appropriate public funds for public control.Geoff Cliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08792854945403024382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-50069864084868397772014-08-11T17:44:11.500+01:002014-08-11T17:44:11.500+01:00Maybe they could phase it in and study the effects...Maybe they could phase it in and study the effects as they go.<br /><br />I suggest starting with all the alcohol sold in the Palace of Westminster. If that proves successful they could move on to adding warnings to champagne, single malts and vintage port, checking as they go that it's still having the desired effect.<br /><br />I'd vote for that, wouldn't you? :)Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13006890073202758172noreply@blogger.com