Should eating on public transport be banned?

OUTGOING Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies says snacking should be banned on public transport to tackle child obesity (Mail). Walking to school would be a more useful way to deal with the issue. Children need more exercise, but councils have sold off school playing fields to developers for a quick profit. All that taxing food will do is make the Treasury’s coffers obese. What isn’t addressed is the lack of affordability of healthy food. Try serving nutritious family meals on Jobseekers’ Allowance. RICHARD MIKULA, Nottingham.

WHENEVER campaigners fail to persuade a target group to change their ways, why is their immediate response to add another sin tax? BRIAN CHRISTLEY, Abergele, Conwy.

WOULD any bus driver confront four drunken yobs on the back seat eating vegan sausage rolls? J. ROUND, Wolverhampton, W. Mids.

THE proposed ban on eating food on public transport doesn’t go far enough. Food, drink and greasy, sticky fingers shouldn’t be allowed on the street. I used to duck and dive to avoid lit cigarettes, now it’s to escape people eating on the go. D. M. DEAMER, York.

BANNING eating on public transport reeks of totalitarianism. Instead of a nanny state, use common sense. ROBERT Lee SHIPLEY, Chatham, Kent.

In THE interest of halting obesity, it’s time to re-introduce my old school rule: ‘no eating in the street!’ KATHLEEN BROWN, Ilkley, W. Yorks.

SO MANY of today’s ills point to a decline in good manners. We have to eat in order to live, but there is a time and place. That should never be on public transport. I spot chewing and drinking everywhere. I hate to see a child in a pushchair being given crisps or sweets. No one will suffer hunger pains or dehydration between home and school or work. The return of manners could help resolve our health problems. PATRICIA DUNWORTH, address supplied.

COULD the Chief Medical Officer ban buckets of popcorn in the cinema, please! Mrs R. O’GRADY, Hounslow, Middlesex.

MOST who eat fast food on public transport are too idle to discard the wrappers in the bins provided. TONY THOMPSON, Banbury, Oxon.