New Zealand to ban cigarettes

Overall it seems to have been a positive since Portugal decriminalized drugs in 2001.

Drug decriminalisation in Portugal: setting the record straight. | Transform (transformdrugs.org)

 

The Tea House in Larbert is best I've ever had think it's the same owners as the one in Bonnybridge.

 

Sorry missed this, been busy over the weekend.

I totally agree when you say one of a governments jobs id to protect its citizens, its probably THE job tbh, however I still believe that a Government should interfere as little as practicably possible* when it comes to allowing its citizens to make choices. We all know that smoking isn't good for you, so the governments tactic should just be to continue what we are doing and educate/tax it accordingly. I'd use alcohol for a comparison - we all know that alcohol causes as much (? or more even) misery and serious health problems also, but the prospect of government making that illegal is nil in my opinion. Yet what would you say if a government decided to simply ban that next, citing its protecting its citizens. Which it would be doing under the banner of protecting its citizens.
Sometimes people need to be left to their own devices/trusted and these are a couple of examples, imo, of that Minty.
Regarding alcohol - I've previously said that I was disappointed we didn't set the minimum price at about 75 pence, aiming for a pound a unit, when it was originally introduced but we will get there.

*Obviously there are times when they (Gov) may well have to legislate, restrict, or make things illegal/remove the choice from the individual.