Who Can Ban?
Saturday, January 01, 2000
I disagree with Kim Bainbridge (14/12) that the government is “guilty” in allowing the sale of cigarettes.
I don’t smoke, but the government cannot ban lifestyles unless there is strong support from the people – as with heroin. There are many dangerous activities which the government does not and should not ban.
Providing the public with accurate information on the outcomes of smoking, driving, childbirth, unprotected sex, buying certain foods, flying, etc is a very proper function of a democratic government.
The principle is inform not control. That’s why we don’t allow false advertising, and do have warnings on cigarette packets.
Who’d want to live in a land where the bureaucrats could ban anything they classified as dangerous.
Philip O'Carroll