Smoking – a change of culture

When I was a young science teacher, I spent my breaks and lunchtimes in the “prep room” with my science-teaching colleagues, thus leading to a reputation for our standoffishness. In my case, that was no doubt partly true, but also because the fug of cigarette smoke in the staff room was so overwhelming. How times have changed ... both workplaces and enclosed public spaces are now entirely smoke free – perhaps the biggest single improvement in long-term public health for several generations.

That was why the published photographs of the runaways – truants – in the Dominican Republic were so shocking – not because rich kids do stupid things, but because they were casually smoking. Most celebrities, whatever they do in private, don't smoke in public – Nigel Farage and Kate Moss being exceptions that prove the rule, as they stand out so obviously.

And in case the health risks were not sufficiently apparent, the fact that five of the Marlboro Men, from the iconic advertisements, have now died of smoking-related diseases, makes the point – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and so on.

So I was not surprised to see the YouGov poll that showed strong support for banning smoking in cars with children. And I am delighted to see that Labour is trying to amend the Children and Families Bill to ban the practice.

I don't know whether the government will change its mind on this or not, but while I hope it does. The culture is slowly changing, and smoking is becoming less and less common, and that is a really good thing for us, our children, and future generations.