JAMES COLLINS,
Madam, - The letter from Frank Fell of the Licensed Vintners Association (February 7th) on the effects of the smoking ban in British Columbia was quite uplifting.
Perhaps we have not given the Government enough credit for the lateral thinking that may result in reducing our country's dependence on both cigarettes and alcohol. A smoking ban that results in an almost immediate fall in sales of draught beer of 13 percent, would be an outstanding beginning to Mr Martin's drive to reduce alcohol consumption.
As Mr Fell is so quick to quote his actuarial facts, could I propose an additional economic exercise? The brief would be to calculate the savings to our health and policing services as a result of a smoking ban reducing alcohol consumption. - Yours, etc.,
JAMES COLLINS, Glasnevin Downs, Dublin 11.
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Madam, - While it is true that the 2000 British Columbia smoking ban was overturned following a legal challenge, Frank Fell neglects to mention that the ban was later reintroduced. Similar bans are being considered or introduced in many other places.
In relation to the economic arguments, many studies have shown that the overall impact is neutral.
Most worrying of all, however, is the fact that a possible loss of income is of more concern to Mr Fell, than the proven increase in mortality and ill-health due to smoking, passive or active. - Yours, etc.,
FRANK COURTNEY, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
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Madam, - Many of the arguments against the long overdue proposal to ban smoking in pubs seem to cherish traditional characteristics for their own sakes whether intrinsically good or bad.
Can we now expect a campaign for the reintroduction of men-only dens with spittoons every few feet, sawdust for those who miss and, perhaps most importantly, a corrugated iron lean-to replete with the obligatory stench that would stun a goat? - Yours, etc.,
TERRY GRIFFIN, Aughrim Street, Dublin 7.