Snack ban plan is difficult to swallow

■ I don’t require an unelected official to inform me about my lifestyle choices, in the same way as I don’t impose my own opinions on others.

Apart from the difficulty in enforcing such a ban, did former Chief Medical Officer Sally Davies give any thought to the fact that if rail companies can’t sell food they are likely to increase fares?

Moreover, given that any such ban will not apply to private cars, there’s a distinct whiff of snobbery, while no thought is given to people with multiple jobs who can only snatch a bite on public transport while travelling to and from work.

This ill-thought-out plan should be discarded as soon as possible. Keeley-Jasmine Cavendish South East London

■ People with diabetes may have to snack while travelling on public transport.

Perhaps if the Tory Government hadn’t closed school playing fields or squeezed the life out of Labourvoting areas – forcing those councils to close youth services etc – our children would be able to participate in more activities.

I also feel that gambling and drug abuse among our young people should be given just as much attention as childhood obesity.

D J Sewell Redcar North Yorks

■ With regards to the debate about the idea to ban eating on public transport, I read with interest your article putting across opposing viewpoints (October 11). And while I agree that fast food is one of the causes of childhood obesity, kids sitting at home for hours playing computer games and not getting any exercise doesn’t help.

When I was young, we played out from dawn to dusk and walked everywhere.

We certainly didn’t get driven to school like many of today’s children. Barbara Lavelle, Wirral, Merseyside

■ I agree with Dame Sally Davies’s suggestion that eating on public transport should be banned in order to help tackle the growing childhood obesity crisis.

However, who is going to enforce such a ban? Will it be the nonexistent conductors, platform staff, guards and ticket office staff on our rail, tube and bus networks?

Ian Brown, Feltham, Middx

■ It seems that every day there’s another new voice clamouring to further regiment our lives.

Although I’ve no wish to encourage snacking on public transport, why ban it?

Logic demands that such a ban should extend to all public places, which would be ridiculous.

John Shale, Wigan

■ What a stupid idea to ban eating on public transport. Some people have medical conditions, such as low blood sugar.

For years, families have gone on holiday on trains taking a picnic for the kids to save money.

Such a ban would price skint families out of going anywhere. Victoria O’Hara

Oldham, Gtr Manchester

■ I’m sure bus and train companies would welcome a ban on eating food on public transport. Discarded food wrappers are often just left to roll about on the floor, causing a potential safety hazard to passengers. James Alan Bradford, West Yorks