Smoking not a cause of poverty
I NOTE that the anti-smoking lobby has had the brass neck to link smoking to poverty, to low IQ, and mental illness and dementia (“Plea for action against smoking in deprived areas”, The Herald, January 18).
First of all, people are not poor because they smoke, rather they smoke because they are poor and it is the only thing they have to relieve themselves of their situation.
Secondly, the idea that smoking leads to a low IQ means that the antismokers have just condemned the likes of Einstein, Picasso and a large section of the most ground breaking scientists and artists in history to being “stupid”.
Thirdly, for those unfortunates who are suffering or have suffered from mental illness it is often the case that smoking is what holds them together.
Fourthly, that smoking causes dementia is very unlikely. Similar to those who suffer from mental illness, smoking amongst dementia patients may be the only thing giving them at least some form of connection to the world.
The point is that the allegation that such groups become dementia patients or become mentally ill is built on a false and rather dangerous and simplistic premise: that these illnesses will disappear by stopping smoking. Also, the further implication that smoking makes you stupid and causes poverty must rank as the wildest accusation that the anti-smoking lobby has come up with yet. How long before smoking becomes a nice excuse for the cutting of benefits of those already suffering from poverty and deprivation?
The Government help suggested for the open-all-hours corner shop to help them not sell cigarettes will not work. In a world where we are told austerity rules, where does the money come from?
Deprivation needs far more constructive societal help from our politicians than attacking tobacco. Alex Flett, Lochfergus House, Kirkcudbright.