ASH Ireland Creates Smoking Ban to Further Own Existence

Here's a prime example of why the gov't was duped into creating smoking bans by self-interest groups. ASH Ireland is one of those bogus anti-smoking groups who popped up a few years ago to collect tobacco settlement money to prevent smoking. They started getting false scientific claims that second-hand smoke is bad for the public's health (despite massive evidence to the contrary that secondhand smoke is NOT bad for anyone).

So then they convinced the Irish gov't to ban smoking. Now, you may ask, why does this group still exist? Their sole purpose was to ban smoking; they did, but here they are a few years later and they won't go away. They want to self-preserve. So what do they do? Come up with more and more false scientific claims to create ever more restrictive bans on smoking so that they can stay in existence and continue to draw more taxpayer's money into their own pockets.

Their latest claim is that secondhand smoke in cars is worse than smoking indoors. If this was true, why didn't they ban car smoke in the first place? Why rush to ban indoor smoking if it wasn't the worst kind of secondhand smoke? The truth is there is no medical evidence to support the claims of any kind of secondhand smoke danger, so they create it to line their pockets and further their own existence.

It is only a matter of time before the public realizes they are only crying wolf. As more and more indoor smoking bans are being revised and repealed, these groups will have plenty of reason to exist -- hiring lawyers to defend their false claims!

Article from the Irish Examiner follows:

Anti-smoking group, ASH Ireland, said passive smoke in a vehicle is 23 times more toxic than it is in buildings or open spaces.

The group, which successfully lobbied the Government to introduce the work-place tobacco ban, is calling for a ban on smoking in cars carrying children under 16.

ASH chief executive Dr Angie Brown said the workplace ban protects adults from the harmful effects of passive smoking, and it is now time to focus attention on protecting children.

ASH said smoking in cars carrying children has been banned in parts of Australia, Canada and the USA.

Dr Brown said: "In households where parents smoke, children are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses. Often it exacerbates a child's asthma.

Research shows that passive smoking might be even more harmful in a confined space like a car, even if the windows are open."

She said: "It will not only have an effect on their health, it also has an effect on their schooling because they might have to miss school if they become ill."

ASH said it would eventually like to see an all-out ban in cars, but the protection of children under 16 is its main priority.

"We would much prefer a total ban on smoking in cars as it is such an unhealthy practice," said Dr Brown.

"Children are unlikely to ask adults to stop smoking, so we must take this important decision out of their hands," she said.

Dr Brown denied that her organisation wants to create a so-called "nanny state".

"An adult can make their own decision whether they want to smoke or not. We have to protect those who can't protect themselves."