Ron Creer: I suppose we could say the same about all drinkers, drug users, any participants in dangerous sports i.e rugby, football, idiots who get the sudden urge to mountain bike or walk up the hills? Anybody being responsible for any pollutants being released which could harm another persons health, say car users or anybody who uses any form of public transport and of course anybody who uses electricity or gas...Please tell me I'm wrong Ron!

William T. Yes lung cancer is mainly caused by smoking. However the total figures of people being diagnosed with cancer only 10% of these are smokers. FACT.

So, some people want the choice to: a] spend an inordinate amount of money on something that harms them and those around them, b] roll some dried plant between paper, set fire to it and put it in their mouth, c] take up beds and professional medics' time on the NHS, and d] complain when others feel this is ridiculous.

Yes, of course I understand. Now pass me a tissue so I can cry for them.

WilliamT: Where did you get your facts from? The Mickey Mouse Medical hand book Pop-up addition? Y'know, if you ever went into business talking to peoples lawns you'd clear up in the domestic fertilizer supply industry! Next you'll be telling us Aliens are to blame!!! Ha Ha Ha

I hope 'Scott's degree study includes some appreciation of numbers, logic and grammar. The numbers are clear: 95+% of lung cancer is caused by smoking-some of these cancers are inflicted by smokers on non-smokers. The remaining 5% are mostly caused by radioactive gas coming out of the ground, which is difficult to eliminate. Without smoking, lung cancer would be exceedingly rare instead of the most common death causing cancer in men- and cancer doesn't even constitute the greatest cause of loss of life years in smokers. That's cardiovascular disease. Skin cancer is caused by excessive sun exposure, but people very rarely die of this cancer and some sun exposure is essential, whereas the optimum level of tobacco smoke exposure is zero.

I hope 'Scott's degree study includes some appreciation of numbers, logic and grammar. The numbers are clear: 95+% of lung cancer is caused by smoking-some of these cancers are inflicted by smokers on non-smokers. The remaining 5% are mostly caused by radioactive gas coming out of the ground, which is difficult to eliminate. Without smoking, lung cancer would be exceedingly rare instead of the most common death causing cancer in men- and cancer doesn't even constitute the greatest cause of loss of life years in smokers. That's cardiovascular disease. Skin cancer is caused by excessive sun exposure, but people very rarely die of this cancer and some sun exposure is essential, whereas the optimum level of tobacco smoke exposure is zero.

I am partial to cheeky smoke when ive had a drink etc so id enjoy having a chit chat to others in the situation. I think be useful because we could talk about wheres the cheapest fags etc as in this current climate, moneys tight and as its so expensive so saving a couple pence per pack could be real saving in the long run. yeh people comment on it could kill you but the sun could also give you skin cancer and kill you but it doesnt stop use sun bathing! so lay of us smokers we need to destress as some of us have stressfull jobs, i work at bae systems and doing a degree at the same time so i need them to wind down sometimes!!!!!!!!!1

smoking rules : ))

Mike
. . .researchers have found tobacco use is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally; so giving up now, you could be doing yourself a favour.

Of all the products we take into our body, only tobacco has no nutritional value whatsoever. Heart and lungs bear the brunt of the diseases caused by tobacco use. Mike, you mention the traffic in Abbey Rd, but fumes unless concentrated in confined space are insignificant by comparition to the harm caused by smoking tobacco products.

On the contrary, we need cars, lorries, buses etc in order to function as a community. Giving up smoking could prevent you and other smokers from these illnesses: heart attack, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, throat and mouth cancer, pancreatic cancer, vascular diseases and hypertension.

Matt: Er, and you non-smokers are exactly the same about the views of smokers, so your point is? Or are you just blatantly arrogant? Also, yes I know it costs the NHS, but how can you be so sure that it is smoking to blame for all of it? Be honest, take a stroll down Abbey Road on any given day and tell me that the air is sweet and clean and not full of filthy poisons from thousands of cars / buses / and lorries that have fumes being pumped out conveniently at the same height as a baby's face would be in a push chair? And let me guess, I bet you drive? Or use public transport? Yeah? Then you are far more responsible that someone puffing on a tiny cigarette. Sorry Matt, but I can't believe smoking is responsible for all respiratory illnesses treated by the NHS to do so would mean you are stupid beyond belief! But if the cap fits?. Mind you, I suppose we could also blame all of the industrial plants that belch out hazardous fumes too for causing lung disease, asthma etc, but - and if you really are holier than thou - that might mean you would have to give up electricity, heating, almost all of the bought products in your home - that is if you still don't want to be a hypocrite? Or alternatively, you can put your tail between your legs and well, I'll let you and your pompous, arrogant hypocrite friends figure out the rest of this sentence.