‘ insane ’
Wiping out deadly tobacco shouldn ’ t come at the cost of our freedom , say critics of a polorising new anti-smoking report .
Words : Jordan Millar
Despite winning favour with vapers across the nation , the Khan review has come under heavy fire .
Critics spoke out against the report , saying it was less a valid public health proposal and more an exercise in ‘ nanny state extremism ’.
They warned the plan , which aims to make smoking obsolete in the UK , would fuel an already ‘ roaring ’ black market and compromise personal freedoms .
Even prolific harm reduction advocate Christopher Snowdon , a regular feature at international pro-vaping conferences and events , hit back at the review .
He said : “ Mr Khan has managed to gather the most crackpot ideas from the fringes of nanny state extremism and compiled them in a single document .
“ It ’ s easy to laugh at some of these proposals and he should be thanked for providing some entertainment in these difficult times .”
However , Snowdon took particular issue with plans to raise the legal smoking age every year , suggesting a future where ‘ 40-year-olds hang around shops looking for 41-yearolds to buy them cigarettes ’.
He said : “ It ’ s insane … before filing this report in the bin , they should make it clear that adults have the right to smoke and that efforts to reduce the smoking rate will not come at the expense of civil liberties .”
Javed Khan denied the ‘ nanny state ’ accusations saying : “ Tobacco is a uniquely dangerous product and we have a duty to protect the public ’ s health … that ’ s got to be our primary concern .
“ The public are often led to believe that smoking is a personal choice , when really this is an addiction promoted by an industry that has no concern for their life or health .
“ I want the government to focus on doing what is right , brushing aside the merchants of doom and leading the way , this is certainly not about personal choice or freedom .”
The Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs condemned a host of ‘ bizarre proposals ’ featured in the review , including painting cigarettes green and banning people in social housing from smoking ‘ in their own homes ’.
62
Mr Khan has managed to gather the most crackpot ideas from the fringes