Smoking Myths (SFA) - 2007

As the smoke clears: The myths and reality of Smokefree England[archive] was a document produced by Smokefree Action (at the latest March 2009) which claimed to list, and then debunk, 10 so-called myths about the smoking ban enacted on July 1st 2007:

1. Myth: It will be bad for pubs
2. Myth: It will be bad for bingo
3. Myth: There will be large scale non-compliance
4. Myth: There will be heavy handed enforcement with undercover officers and covert filming
5. Myth: Working men's clubs and shisha bars will close
6. Myth: People won't really quit
7. Myth: Smoking is a victimless crime/ Claims about the health impact are flawed
8. Myth: House fires will increase as people will stay at home to smoke
9. Myth: There will be an increase in exposure of secondhand smoke in the home, affecting children
10. Myth: The public do not want a smoking ban or any further tobacco control measures

Unfortunately, as time has progressed, the 'myths,' in large part have been shown to be facts.

It will be bad for pubs

Smokefree Action stated that:

Pro smoking groups claimed that the smokefree legislation would be bad for business and we would lead to many pubs closing down. The evidence to date from notable pub groups is that the smoking ban has had 'little impact' upon their sales.

CR Consulting (2011) on the other hand found that before the smoking ban, the closure rate averaged 0.6% (1990-2006) and after the ban, in the respective countries, the closure rate increased to 2.7% - over four times.

It will be bad for bingo

TODO:

There will be large scale non-compliance

TODO:

There will be heavy handed enforcement with undercover officers and covert filming

TODO:

Working men's clubs and shisha bars will close

TODO:

People won't really quit

TODO:

Smoking is a victimless crime/ Claims about the health impact are flawed

Smokefree Action state:

Numerous international reports from bodies such as the WHO, IARC and the UK's Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health found that exposure to secondhand smoke was responsible for an increase in heart disease, lung cancer and reduced lung function.

Thousands of death certificates are issued naming smoking as the cause of death, however not one person has had second hand smoke as the cause. Indeed, when presented with 'incontrovertible' proof that second hand smoke could have caused their death, the courts have refused to acknowledge it.

When pressed to name victims of SHS, anti-smoking groups seem very reluctant (or unable) to answer.

Of the three that were named:

• (Estate of) Mildred Wiley vs tobacco companies was found in favour of the companies[1] (she had pancreatic cancer which spread to her lungs[2])
• (Estate of) Burl Butler vs tobacco companies was found in favour of the companies by a 11 to 1 majority[3]
• (Estate of) Larry Ray Thaxton vs Norfolk Southern Railway was settled out of court before it came to trial.[4]

Furthermore, Smokefree Action go on:

Recently released research from Scotland shows that admissions to hospital for heart attacks have declined by 17 per cent since the introduction of the smoking ban in public places.

Lies. Statistics available from ISD Scotland show nothing of the sort.

Emergency Admissions for Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and Stroke, January 2005 to March 2010, by Month

A graph of total of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and Stroke, January 2005 to March2010, by Month[5][6] shows the reality:

House fires will increase as people will stay at home to smoke

TODO:

There will be an increase in exposure of secondhand smoke in the home, affecting children

TODO:

The public do not want a smoking ban or any further tobacco control measures

TODO: