Current mood:	cold
Current music:	Smashing Pumpkins - "Zero"

Here's where you scroll past because you're bored of hearing about this whole thing...
I know you're all sick to death of this, and this isn't specifically to do with the smoking ban, but I have some thoughts on how unusual the disparity between the treatment of certain legalised vices is...

It occurs to me that although the number of people admitted to hospital with alcohol related issues is comparable to (if not higher than) the number of people admitted with smoking related issues, the bizarre way in which our society approaches them leaves a lot to be desired. Something ought to be done about this. I'm not talking about doing anything that isn't already in place, I'm just talking about giving alcohol the same treatment as tobacco.

I should expect to see all alcohol advertising banned (except for the few loopholes which mean basically anything can be advertised).

Warnings on bottles and cans of anything containing alcohol that comsumption can lead to loss of balance, loss of vision, dysphoria, violent and aggressive behaviour, mood swings, short and long term memory loss, decreased heart rate, low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, fetal alcohol syndrome (FES), impotence, infertility, ulcers, alcohol poisoning, osteoporosis, cirrhosis, hyperthermia, loss of consciousness, brain damage, coma and death*. Not to mention all the retarded and really fucking dangerous things we've all done while drunk (I don't need to make a list, do I?).

Posters on billboards, in hospitals, doctors surgeries, magazines, newspapers, adverts on TV, radio, etc showing the grotesque and debilitating phsyical effects that alcohol can have on the body.

Non-alcohol sections in restaurants (I'd pay good, hard-earned cash to see that in place. Am I the only person who occasionally wants to have a meal without some drunken asshole at the table next to me being loud, obnoxious or violent?).

Have I missed anything? I'm sure I have. Everyone tells me not to smoke. Everyone tells me it's bad for me. Does anyone ever tell me I shouldn't be getting drunk? Hell, no - it's actively encouraged! I see it everywhere, and as some of you know, I'm still recovering from a drinking problem. I'm doing OK these days, but the last thing that going to help is every fuckwit with an advertising licence and a voice box telling me to stop worrying and have a nice cold beer.

I like to think of myself as a considerate smoker. I don't blow smoke in people's faces, I don't often smoke indoors (unless it's my own damned house), I smoke very little around Jude, I observe non-smoking signs with the utmost respect, I always stub my cigarette out properly when I'm done with it, so the smoke doesn't linger, and so no-one burns themselves, I don't smoke on dancefloors, or in overly crowded rooms, or around other people who are eating, or other small children... I could keep going, but I won't. And I'm not saying I've not occasionally done something that breaks my own smoking related rules. Nobody's perfect, least of all me. But I make a big effort to keep my vices in moderation, and to myself.

However, if I'm going to be hounded, ridiculed and shunned because I smoke, then I'd like to take a few lousy fucking drunks with me.

* This list was cropped due to length. I'm sure you can fill in most of the blanks for yourself.