THE smoking ban will soon be upon us, but let us put this ban into perspective. It appears we can pickle our livers with alcohol, fill the air with carbon monoxide fumes and gamble away the entire contents of our homes.

I wonder if I am missing something when you can murder, commit fraud, sexual abuse and when you go to prison you can do something that is against the law on the outside.

Is it just me or do I feel we have been brainwashed? The statistics are dubious since they only convey smoking related diseases, and not death by passive smoking.

I do not know anyone among my family or friends that have died from passive smoking. The fact is we will never be told what is entering our atmosphere in the way of deadly toxins from industry.

It appears that this anti-smoking campaign is (forgive the pun) a smoke screen, since the welfare of the nation has never been a priority for this or any other Government come to that.

The fact that smoking has taken priority over the number one killer of all time, the motor car, bears up my argument.

As regards the very smug and snooty anti-smoker - we all know who they are - they turn their noses up and waft their hands about in disgust when you light up.

They are the very hypocrites that get into their 4x4s and drive 100 yards to the corner shop.

I offer them a bet, I sit in my garage and smoke and they sit in their garage with their car engine going and we will see which ones comes out alive.

S E IRELAND, Southampton.