Harassed smokers
Sir: I was delighted to see Alexander Chancellor taking up the cudgels on behalf of the poor, harassed smoker (Notebook, 3 December). Like hint, I am extremely sceptical about the dubious statistics trotted out to prove that smoking is the worst of social evils. Although a motorist myself, I believe that the car is a far greater public menace, pollutes more atmospheres, and causes more deaths than all the smokers could ever hope to. Mr Chancellor fears that punitive taxation will drive the nicotine addicts to take up mugging. No doubt he's joking, but I seriously believe that one consequence would be an increase in psychiatric disorders among all those people (especially the elderly) who derive a great deal of solace from tobacco. Is it too much to hope that the present Chancellor of the Exchequer will have the courage to ignore the anti-smoking fanatics and leave us alone for a change?
Arthur Mayer
4 Ranelagh Place, New Malden, Surrey
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