[quote="Taslyn Pierce, post: 303427, member: 38745"]If the government ban smoking it will be just another thing that takes away our choices and freedom. The age restriction and outrageous tax is enough.
Plus it would be like banning drinking, I wonder how well that would go down[/quote]
I don't think any pollie would have the guts to even try banning booze. However, the wowsers in charge of the licensing court do a pretty fair imitation of the old-time temperance movement.
Interesting piece of history:
Back in the tsarist era in Russia one of the Tsars became disenchanted with the Eastern Orthodox church which was the "official" state religion and embarked on a study of various faiths and philosophies. Along the way he became very attracted to Islam and wanted to convert but his advisors held him back. You see, had he converted Islam would have become the official State Religion and he, as the head of State and head of the church would have been obliged to enshrine the Islamic teachings in law.
Now a Tsar, like a feudal king, ruled by divine right but he knew only too well that even Allah would not save him if he tried to come between the Russian people and their hooch so he gave up the idea.