Smoking

Monday

Alex Massie

Today’s menace to society: smoking in cars

Will Saletan has a reasonable column today pointing out just how absurd the War on Smoking has become. Saletan hits some of the right notes, observing, for instance, that alcohol has greater social costs than tobacco etc etc. Fair enough. But this is a lost – or at least doomed – battle. You want to see the future? Well, according to this Newsday story there’s currently a bill coming before New York City Council that would prohibit smoking in cars if anyone under the age of 18 was present. Never mind the fact that (even in NYC traffic) cars come equipped with a remarkably efficient ventilation system – windows –

Wednesday

Alex Massie

Resisting the exercise bullies

John Daly, Man of the People, Hero: [Tiger] Woods, who won the USPGA on Sunday, said his opponents could have combated Tulsa’s heat better with a fitness regime like his. Daly, who weighs 100kgs and has had well-documented alcohol problems, briefly led at Southern Hills before fading to tie for 32nd place. But he said: “I did better than most players last week who do work out.” Speaking on the eve of the European Tour’s Scandinavian Masters in Sweden, Daly added: “I don’t think it matters if you work out or if you don’t work out.” “I’m used to the heat. Fat boys like me can get through the heat.”