r9)c!s!BMe7Sm0zi!~~_7.JPG "electric*mayhem*band"){kind=avatar}
7ryMJjyBMgowKMZdQ~~_7.JPG "cee-dee"){kind=avatar}
Pythonism ! Well we already have Darwinism, now we have Pythonism.
Today is the ' The Great British Cigarette Debacle'. It's the day when, by law, all cigarettes in places where these are sold, must be hidden behind closed doors. No longer will you be able to see these displayed, since the reason behind this is because (apparently) kids find the packets attractive. How they arrive at this theory, is beyond me. I personally, have never found a ciggie packet particularly aesthetic, in fact I've always thought they were all rather bland and uninteresting. And they're certainly not very nice now, with images of blocked arteries and rotting teeth. I don't ever recall seeing a pack with a picture of a 'celebrity' or sportsman, a cartoon character or an Avatar, a nice psychedelic or floral pattern on them. Still, the teenagers find them appealing so it seems.
From today you are not allowed to ask a shopkeeper which are the cheapest brand, because they are not meant to tell you. Some shop owners know which brand of smokes a particular customer buys, and will automatically take them from the shelf without them asking for them. Well not any longer. If they do so, they are breaking the law. They have also been issued with minute price stickers to place over the existing ones. This is because customers are not permitted to actually see the prices, only the person serving them. At the bottom of the sliding doors there is a strip of metal. This is designed to prevent toddlers from looking up and viewing the contents. (Assuming the sprogs can manage to get behind the counter in the first place, of course).
The next salute is that they are thinking of making all cigarette packets plain, which sort of makes all of the above a tad silly. Honestly, you couldn't make it up. And I haven't. This was told to me by the manageress of my local 'Supernews'. Now you may think this was all an edict by the Health & Safety nannies. Not so. It was issued by Comedy Dave and his band of Crackpots.
When you think that a teenager could walk into any supermarket, remove a bottle of Vodka from the shelf, and neck it on the spot if the mood takes them, it makes all of this nonsense above even more ridiculous. Truly, the world has gone bonkers.
@bankhaunter wrote:My point was that of the people who drink alcohol only some may become addicted if they drink regularly whereas once a person starts smoking it is rare that addiction doesn't follow.
I disagree that smoking is more addictive than the consumption of alcohol, as you suggest. In fact I would say that they are both equally addictive - albeit not to any great extent (in most cases). Check out the number of wine bottles in shopping trolleys.
No JBM, this is because the assistants are not permitted now to verbally tell customers the prices or the brands they sell. I haven't yet seen this list you speak of in the supermarkets here, but I don't patronise the cigarette kiosks in supermarkets, so they very well may do so. However in three tobacconists that I know, they are refusing to comply with this stupid law, and if a customer asks which are the cheapest, or which brands they sell, they will tell them. They also still serve a customer that they know with their particular brand without them asking, something else they are not allowed to do. You could crack a rib laughing at these ridiculous and insane laws.
It seems that everyone who enjoys a cigarette is classed as a leper these days, to the exclusion of all else. No smoking in pubs, clubs, caffs, restaurants, public transport, etc, not a problem with that. Our bus station is a huge edifice of a place. The roof is probably 60/70 ft to the apex, you could almost class it as being outdoors, because it's open both ends to the four winds. If there is the slightest breeze blowing, it's like a wind tunnel. However, don't you dare attempt to light a ciggie up in there. Meanwhile, there's a couple of buses spewing out poisonous carbon monoxide. You can't smoke, but you can sit in there and throw cans of Stella down your throat until you become completely off your face and unconscious.
You really couldn't script these stupid and idiotic laws, brought into being by the Non Smoking Clan. They've achieved what they wanted by banning smoking indoors, on public transport, etc, and they're still not satisfied. Nor will they be until they have banned smoking in the street and parks. In fact it's probably being discussed as I'm typing this.
'If they don't want people to smoke then stop selling the stuff'.
Mmmmmmm...really can't think why. *puts thinking cap on*
Nope. I'm stumped.
Of course. Why did I not think of that. I never went to private school, so what can you expect. 
