My initial 'contributions' to this thread were somewhat 'kneejerk'. I am a non-smoker, and have been all my life. I grew up around smokers (not liking it all that much it must be said), and also I have many friends who smoke.

I see a profound hypocricy and inconsistancy - and even *immoral* one, in the increasing *criminalisation of smokers*, while the STATE continues to extract REVENUE from these physical addicts, who pay with their lives for adopting habits which our youth remain LEGALLY endorsed to do, at disgustingly early ages!

Who pays in blood?
Who reaps in revenue?
And yet who remains the criminal?

Of course children should be protected from the nicotine addiction and related diseases. But the increasing *criminalisation* of existing addicts, is IMO, a complete and total bullshit with a capital *B*.
My apologies to those I offend.