End of filthy habit that has been a huge drag
I’ve got tickets to see Sheridan Smith in Opening Night next week and I can’t wait – despite a crushing set-back for the new stage show. The West End musical will close two months early after poor reviews, as producers blamed “a challenging financial landscape”. Sheridan plays a star who unravels on stage. She’s been praised as
Quick, buy Britain a nicotine patch – we’re quitting smoking. Albeit rather slowly.
But you can’t expect an entire nation to go cold turkey. Imagine how irritable everyone would be.
In a rare moment of logic from the Government, MPS have voted to outlaw this deadly habit, stubbing out a massive health problem.
The historic move blocks anyone born after January 1, 2009 from buying cigarettes, with the age limit rising each year – kids aged 15 or younger will never be able to buy them legally.
Addicted adults can carry on but I bet most wish they’d never started.
The 2007 indoor smoking ban did well to literally freeze out a few social puffers but the dangerous habit still kills 80,000 people a year.
The only upside to smoking was that exceptional but critics slammed the production.
What a sucker-punch for Sheridan, who has drawn on her own mental health problems for the role, saying: “I’ve been in my own mental crisis before. I lost a lot of confidence.” I felt desperately sorry for Sheridan – it made John Travolta look sexy in Grease. But that may have had more to do with the tight trousers...
Chandler summed it up perfectly in Friends when he yelled: “I’ve had it with you guys and your cancer and your emphysema and your heart disease.
“The bottom line is, smoking is cool and you know it.”
But that justification is no longer cool, either. This phasing-out is a game changer and, as a parent, I am relieved and grateful.
I worry about vaping but the Tobacco and Vaping Bill will also limit vapes that get kids hooked on nicotine.
When I was at school, in the days of teens smoking behind bike sheds, friends would push you to “just try it”. Refusing a drag made you a drag – you had to be bold to say no.
I am so glad my kids will also never a super-talented triple threat who I have seen in every production she’s been in.
But as the Best Actress nominee stepped out at the Olivier Awards last weekend, she dazzled as always.
Chin up, jazz hands, stage smile. What a pro. have to experience coming home from a night out with clothes and hair absolutely reeking of revolting smoke.
I have always hated smoking, moving away from the cloud of fumes if someone sparks up nearby.
I may have gone slightly too far with my anti-smoker moaning to my kids. When they were toddlers, if they saw a smoker approaching in the street they’d point and yell: “SMOKER! CROSS THE ROAD!” Marginally embarrassing.
As this ban comes in, there are some naysayers who shout about the nanny state and freedom of choice.
But why, if there is not one single redeeming quality? It’s killing people, it costs a fortune and the health impact is a drain on our NHS.
Some MPS opposed the bill, fearing a ban could create a dangerous black market. But surely a legal block will stop most youngsters taking up the habit?
This health intervention will save lives and I’m thrilled to see the Government kicking butt.
It kills people, it costs a fortune and drains NHS