In July 2007 there was great hope that the smoking ban would help cut the number of UK smokers. Maybe during the summer months, we would not see such a big difference, but the thinking was the shivering outside would take some of the glamour away, as well as reducing the risks of passive smoking. The smoking ban was a way of changing out entire culture’s attitude to cigarettes.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case and there are in fact more male smokers now, while the number of women smoking has stayed the same. Furthermore, while ministers had seen the ban as a way to reduce the number of smokers from poorer backgrounds, there has been a rise in male smoking amongst this group. The findings will be a blow to the government and yesterday in parliament Alan Johnson faced angry calls from MPs for more stringent anti-smoking measures to be put in place.
The report, based on data from the National Health Survey, also looked into the rates of obesity and drinking in the country. The general message seemed to be that governmental advice on how to live healthily was not getting through, with many confused about how much they should be drinking or exercising.
When it comes to smoking, however, being forced to stand outside like a leper would give the heads-up to most people that its not that good for you. We know its bad for us, but we still do it. Speaking personally, I think its because smoking is so deeply linked to our sense of identity, both how we see ourselves and how we present ourselves to others. No one ever really says, “Hello. I’m an alcoholic” or “I’m significantly overweight” and expects to be perceived as wildly glamorous. We say, “I’m a smoker” and there is an element of pride there, a subtext of , “I am rakish and devil may care. Watch me blow smoke in your face in the manner of a film noir detective.”
Therefore no amount of governmental regulation or telling off will make me quit. In fact, the ban just makes smoking that bit more fun, reminding me of schooldays spent skulking on the netball courts in a cloud of Marlborough smoke. Fair enough with the smoking ban, no one should have to breathe in my smoke. But until I - and I imagine many others like me - cease to relish being labelled as a smoker, no amount of banning will make a difference.