Letters to the Editor, February 16, 2014

I refer to your editorial ("For sake of youth, raise tobacco tax", February 9) and the positive views you took of the proposal.

Many years ago a brilliant friend suggested to me the ultimate way to protect our children and future generations from this deadly tobacco dependence and human suffering, was for government to "rule a line in the sand" and legislate to make it illegal for anybody (citizens or visitors) born on or after a prescribed date (for example, January 1, 2010), to buy, own, sell, grow, import, export or use tobacco products.

With strict enforcement, this would effectively phase out tobacco use in a country in one lifetime, although some illegal use by obstinate addicts would remain. It is a radical approach requiring a government's determination to protect the health of future generations at the expense of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.

Ultimately, I believe eliminating tobacco use will require radical approaches like my friend suggested.

Current government initiatives such as increased taxation, a plethora of polite anti-smoking TV commercials and plain packaging on tobacco products will always play second fiddle to peer pressure and the pleasure from addictive tobacco association.

Of course, it may be hard to find a decisive government that places human health and frailty ahead of tax revenue.