Letter: No smoke without taxes - the case against prohibition

Clive Turner
Friday 23 May 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Dr Davison (letters, 22 May) suggests that tobacco should ultimately be banned altogether. He needs only to recall the extreme effects of alcohol prohibition in the US, to say nothing of the unimaginably enormous global loss of tax revenues.

There are 1.1 billion smokers around the world, which represents one third of the earth's adult population. The notion that all those people shall be required to forgo what they regard as a simple and freely chosen pleasure is simply ludicrous.

CLIVE TURNER

Tobacco Manufacturers' Association

London SW1

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in