I smoked from age 20 (when I stopped serious sport) to 29 (when I became a father).
I was on 20 a day for much of that time and I loved it. I knew it was deadly, but I was immortal at that age.
My father was an athlete (half mile) in pre-war London and was told by his coach at the age of 15-16 to have a quick smoke before races to calm his nerves. In my early 20s I had the odd smoke before a half-marathon (which I used to do for fun and not very fast).
I dislike the smell of stale tobacco now, but I do understand why people smoke and I really think it's up to them. I find quite absurd the thought of smokers with terminal lung and heart conditions suing the manufacturers. We are supposed to die and if we live carelessly we will probably die younger.
As to the government (successive governments across decades) taking duty paid on ciggies into the exchequer, I wouldn't have it any other way. If they could hit drug peddlars with a similar duty, all the better.
But... I'd take the VAT off bicycles and cycling accessories...
I was on 20 a day for much of that time and I loved it. I knew it was deadly, but I was immortal at that age.
My father was an athlete (half mile) in pre-war London and was told by his coach at the age of 15-16 to have a quick smoke before races to calm his nerves. In my early 20s I had the odd smoke before a half-marathon (which I used to do for fun and not very fast).
I dislike the smell of stale tobacco now, but I do understand why people smoke and I really think it's up to them. I find quite absurd the thought of smokers with terminal lung and heart conditions suing the manufacturers. We are supposed to die and if we live carelessly we will probably die younger.
As to the government (successive governments across decades) taking duty paid on ciggies into the exchequer, I wouldn't have it any other way. If they could hit drug peddlars with a similar duty, all the better.
But... I'd take the VAT off bicycles and cycling accessories...