is this the same doctors who called passive smoking the phantom menace in a medical mag because it do,s not exist.the hs report of 2006 also states they could find no evidence of the menace.bullys always pick on those who can,t fight back and smokers fit the bill to a T.

ricey, halifax, uk

I see, so the "passive smoking" excuse for the ban was just a smokescreen after all ... Social engineering is the driving force, that is most certainly clear. Hijacking all media to convey a moral message might be just a teeny bit of an over-reaction.

James Davies, UK,

It isn't the nanny culture, nannies are generally kindly - it's the bullying big brother culture instead.

Paul Gooch, Nottingham, England

Gordon Brown looks a picture of health eh?

stephen, haverfordwest, uk

For goodness sake. this is another example of the nanny culture in this country! I am all for protecting children from the images of 'cool' smoking but the films mentioned above are 18. If smoking was such a massive concern then te govenment should ban it. But what about the massive tax revenue????

Luke, Bristol,

I think the anti-smoking ban has gone way too far it is ridiculous. Next will they be wearing black armbands and being sent to labour camps? Come on !Some of these people have been marginalised into fanatical smoking groups who strongly believe they are smoking as a statement for democracy !

B Ghanoosh, Leeds, GB

Doesn't anyone else find it odd that Uma Thurman is considered a bad role model because she smokes cigarettes in Pulp Fiction, but the fact that her character (in that same movie) snorts cocaine and heroine, and is married to a mobster is overlooked?

Jules, Tulsa, USA

Even the tobacco companies no longer claim that it is "based on false premises". Even without evidence it is a no-brainer that smoking is harmful. How on earth can we have "pro-smokers"?

denis, belfast, UK

Ha! Show them smoking and show them coughing and bringing up gobs of stuff. That'll be adversive.

Seriously, as an ex-smoker I must say preaching just made me want to puff harder. If the smoker isn't at your elbow,
then SHUT UP!

Judy Shimkus, St Louis, MO, USA

The real causes of smoking diseases are the immuno compromising diet of light oils (polyunsaturates), margarine, excessive sugar/fruit, and too little of the true immuno vitamins : vitamin A (from liver) and D (from sunlight).

This is mostly due to the medical world.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

"... also singled out the film Independence Day, in which she said Will Smith lit a cigar every time he dispatched an alien".

Did she actually watch the film? Did she take his cigar lighting in the context of the character and his motivation for doing so?

Albull, London,

Paul from Singapore:

This anti smoking nonsense has gone too far and most of it is based on false premises. No one has proved that second hand smoke is harmful. 'Pay for your health costs'?? Well, then I dont want to pay health costs for those in car accidents, drowned when swimming, etc.

James, London, UK

Last night on the radio, a school girl said she and her friends now hate Jamie Oliver. The decline in the sales to the young of blue denim some years ago was attributed to the "Jeremy Clarkson effect." Maybe allowing Jeremy to smoke while presenting his show is the answer?

Jon, manchester,

Oh! so the Health Fascists are the British Board of Film Censors now are they.
These prissy little busybodies have to be stopped !
It's gone far enough its just getting ridiculous .
They deserve nothing more than laughter.
Imagine Lord of the Rings with an 18 certificate what an affront.
This Anti Smoking Fascicst lot don't hail from Mordor .... or do they?

Colin, Corby, UK

They should show less medical scenes in films, so as to curb the demand for showboating doctors.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

Err Paul - I think you'll find we pay for far more than our health costs already.

Mark, London,

I would dare to say that the violence portrayed in films and on TV is far more harmful than showing people smoking.

Funny that Nanny doesn't seem to be bothered about that ...

Stuart, Motril, Spain

Frank,
Deal, just don't smoke next to me when I'm eating and at least try to keep the smoke away from me.

Simple really you respect my space and I respect yours.
We don't need all these laws restricting your right to death.

PS no littering and pay your own health costs.

Paul, Singapore, Singapore

The closing scene of 'Now Voyager' will never be the same again !

Shirley Bowen, Blackpool, UK

Very interesting! So someone, presuambly reasonably qualified to do so, is admitting a likely link between screen behaviour and its effect on real life. Can I suggest we also look at screen violence in the same context?

Bill, Yeovil, UK

Humphrey Bogart declared Britains public enemy number one.

I suppose liberals will follow the Dutch example and castigate those smoking anything except 'harmless' cannabis.

Whats next health nutters? Rounding up smokers and putting them into re-education camps? Enough with the nanny state!

ethan, nr dole farm, uk

And are they also calling for controls on us seeing what people drink, eating fatty foods, driving cars too fast, swearing in public, picking your nose? Get a life, morons.

Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, UK

I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumours, I'll die.

Deal?

Now would you please leave me alone you obnoxious busybodies.

Frank, London,

Though smoking is a great problem, don't you think that the government should be putting all its energy and resources into the alcoholic epidemic of such proportions that is destroying your society and much of its youth.

ELG, Israel,

Patronising and pitiful.

Anthony Price, Truro, Cornwall, UK

Doctors, as scientists, are well aware that correlation is not the same as causation. The fact that more films featured smoking when smoking rates were higher could just as easily be the media seeking an impression of verisimilitude by reflecting reality, rather than a causal link the other way.

John Scott, London,

The reason smoking is seen as cool is because "worthy" authority figures don't approve of it. Like all other "isms", "elf & safety" mutterings and the like, if opinions stopped getting flung about to justify jobs and budgets, the common sense of each of us could prevail.

Jake, London, UK