A MAN who set up a lobby group representing the rights of Irish smokers has called on Limerick smokers to stand up to what he describes as ‘Prohibition extremism in a free society’.
John Mallon, the spokesman for the group Forest Éireann said he is undertaking a national tour “against a backdrop of increasingly restrictive measures on smoking and tobacco, including campaigns to ‘de-normalise’ the habit.”
“Following the public smoking ban, the prohibition of 10 packs and the display ban, campaigners now want to ban smoking in private vehicles carrying children. What next? All cars? Private homes where children are present? Outdoor parks and beaches? And what about other products that carry a potential health risk such as alcohol and fizzy drinks? Will they be targeted too?”, he asked.
Mr Mallon said he is also concerned with the “unintended consequences of anti-tobacco legislation including the closure of pubs, an increase in the black market sale of tobacco and the increasing prevalence of smoking in Ireland”
He is also highly critical of the picture health warnings that were made mandatory on all tobacco products sold in Ireland since the start of February.
According to national smokers quitline Quit.ie, one million Irish people smoke and it is the single biggest cause of ill-health and death in the country.
MAN who set up a lobby group representing the rights of Irish smokers has called on Limerick smokers to stand up to what he describes as ‘Prohibition extremism in a free society’.
John Mallon, the spokesman for the group Forest Éireann said he is undertaking a national tour “against a backdrop of increasingly restrictive measures on smoking and tobacco, including campaigns to ‘de-normalise’ the habit.”
“Following the public smoking ban, the prohibition of 10 packs and the display ban, campaigners now want to ban smoking in private vehicles carrying children. What next? All cars? Private homes where children are present? Outdoor parks and beaches? And what about other products that carry a potential health risk such as alcohol and fizzy drinks? Will they be targeted too?”, he asked.
Mr Mallon said he is also concerned with the “unintended consequences of anti-tobacco legislation including the closure of pubs, an increase in the black market sale of tobacco and the increasing prevalence of smoking in Ireland”
He is also highly critical of the picture health warnings that were made mandatory on all tobacco products sold in Ireland since the start of February.
According to national smokers quitline Quit.ie, one million Irish people smoke and it is the single biggest cause of ill-health and death in the country.
