Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
Everybody's favorite whipping boy
It's possible there might be some responses to this column, but I'd bet very few will agree with what I have to say. That is because the subject is smoking and we all know that anyone advocating for smokers' rights is considered to be, at the very least, anti-social. Some even think of smokers as the scourge of civilization.
I chose the subject because May 31 was deemed to be World No Tobacco Day, a rather grandiose undertaking, if you ask me, but indicative of the unceasing efforts to dump on, harass and intimidate people who choose to partake in a perfectly legal activity with a perfectly legal product.
Those of you who do smoke will have become aware of a tiny change to cigarette packages lately, a change so small one might wonder why I would get into a twist over it. The change involves the addition of a little piece of paper stuck to one end of the package, a tab that has to be removed before the package can be opened.
Cigarette packages used to have a duty tag attached years ago, but it was eventually removed. Now it's back and it's bugging me, much as a mosquito bite would bother me. For a fumble-fingers like me, it is irritating trying to take the tag off. But, hey, who's going to complain? Smokers? Ha ha ha!
I can think of no other legal product where the consumer is constantly and continually harassed because they choose to buy it. Imagine, if you will, a wine store or a liquor store where all the product was kept hidden from customer view. Imagine all the Captain Morgan, Budweiser and Molson's ads disappearing from print and broadcast media.
What about all the fast food outlets with their hamburgers and fries? Should they be tightly sealed in cellophane wrap and finished off with a hard-to-remove tag because they are considered by some to be unhealthy? Should all those caffeine-laden coffees, teas and soft drinks be hidden from view in the supermarket? Obviously not, because consumers would have a hissy fit.
But, you say, it's different with cigarettes because “second-hand” smoke is a health hazard to non-smokers. And, you might add, smoke – and smokers – smell. To which I would reply, have you ever been in an accident caused by a drunk driver? I have. Believe me, a whiff of smoke is far less hazardous than having a roaring hunk of machinery smash into your vehicle. Have you ever lived with an alcoholic? I have. The smell of booze is not my favourite thing. Have you ever lived with someone addicted to Pepsi-Cola? I have. At the very least, it's interesting to be around someone who's on a caffeine high every day.
I understand the above-mentioned tag was added because the provincial government sees it as a way to fight illegal cigarettes. That's their story. I think it is just another in a long series of steps being taken to cause as much grief to smokers as possible. And if it truly is to battle the trade in illegal cigarettes, one can only blame the government for the trade, much as one can blame government for marijuana grow-ops.
Over the years, the government has raised taxes and caused the price of cigarettes to rise to a point where many are tempted to look for a cheaper source: i.e illegal cigarettes. If there were not willing buyers, the trade would die. The same with grow-ops: they would not exist and the gangs who run them would be out of business if marijuana use was legalized.
But back to cigarettes and smokers. I cannot think of any other group that is subject to such levels of harassment with the unqualified endorsement of most of the citizenry. Smokers have no voice because no one wants to hear what they have to say and no one who does not smoke will stand up for them.
I don't have a front lawn, but I have stood up for those who do to have the right to put a sign up if they so wish. I don't skateboard, but I have championed the need for a decent skateboard park for a long time. I don't own a dog, but I have made the case for a leash-free park in town. And so it goes.
It seems to me it's time some of you non-smokers stepped up and spoke out against the increasing discrimination and demonization of a minority whose only “crime” is to use a legal product.
Tell me, am I wrong?
