Smoking ban plan goes too far

It's hardly surprising that many older New Zealanders are outraged at heavy-handed proposals to ban smoking in RSA's, the bastion of social life for many war vets, says National MP Richard Worth.

Commenting on select committee changes to the Smokefree Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill, Mr Worth says the Government's riding roughshod over freedom of choice with the talk of banning smoking in pubs, clubs, RSA's and restaurants.

"Listen to what this issue has sparked on talkback radio in the last few days. A lot of angry and bewildered callers, many of them ex-servicemen.

"As National's Veterans Affairs spokesman, I know the special position RSA's and their members hold in our community. These people didn't fight for personal freedom to have it wiped out by some PC nanny state.

"What are these elderly war veterans expected to do. Stand out in the car park in the cold to enjoy a quick smoke?

"This anti-smoking proposal is just another example of a Government hell-bent on telling us how to run our lives, without any consideration of the impact it'll have on clubs, pubs, RSA's and their patrons," says Mr Worth.

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