FOREST - rapidly becoming a dinosaur?
For every social change for the better that comes about, it appears that is always a group that opposes it, and for the welcome changes in attitudes towards smoking, the opposition in the UK is an organisation known as FOREST.
FOREST is the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco, and is mostly funded, surprise, surprise, by the tobacco industry. FOREST were in opposition to the recent complete ban on smoking in public places in England, and argue that improved ventilation can allow smokers and non-smokers to comfortably socialise together. However, I have yet to come across a form of ventilation that is so good that non-smokers are not forced to breathe the cigarette smoke of smokers in their company. Even on the street, where it can be argued that the ventilation is perfect, non-smokers have complained about having to breathe in the cigarette smoke of smokers.
FOREST downplay the effects of passive smoking, arguing that non-smokers are being “too precious” about breathing in cigarette smoke. FOREST argue that if you are in the presence of a smoker the smoke you breathe in is only minimal, but they ignore the fact that, prior to the smoking ban, the presence of large numbers of smokers in venues such as pubs and cafes could sometimes make it intolerable for non-smokers to be there, especially those suffering from asthma, or other respiratory problems.
Borrowing the political language of minorities, FOREST argue that smokers are becoming an oppressed minority, but the point is that, at the end of the day, smokers have made a conscious decision to smoke, therefore they cannot equate themselves with people who are oppressed because of who they are, and circumstances that they have no control over.
The bottom line is that non-smokers should not be forced to breathe cigarette smoke, and that’s what the smoking ban is all about.
My message to FOREST is, sure, enjoy smoking tobacco if you want to, but don’t put your smoke into the air I have to breathe, and don’t encourage other people, particularly the young, to take up this life-threatening addiction.
Filed under: Tobacco industry, General
