| Since July 1st, much of the country has been | | | | cigarette ends. |
| rejoicing at the introduction of a smoking | | | | |
| ban in the UK. It is now against the law to | | | | Our children are now expected to pass through |
| smoke in any public building including pubs | | | | people drinking and smoking on the street |
| and restaurants. Now people can enjoy an | | | | just so that they can get to the local shop, |
| evening out without fear of returning home | | | | breathing in smoke as they go. They are |
| stinking of cigarette smoke. | | | | involuntarily listening to 'adult' language |
| | | | and conversation drifting through open |
| But has anyone stopped to think just how such | | | | windows whilst they try and sleep at night. |
| a ban is effecting small rural communities in | | | | What is this teaching our children? ...That |
| England and particularly the children who | | | | drinking on our streets is acceptable?...That |
| live there. Our quiet villages have already | | | | dropping litter on our streets is OK? |
| seen a change in character and for those who | | | | |
| reside in the heart of these villages, this | | | | Our children need protecting from alcohol and |
| change is not a positive one. Noise levels, | | | | smoke but now they are more subjected to it |
| late into the evening, seven days a week, | | | | than ever. This may be a culture that our |
| have increased dramatically with drinkers now | | | | larger towns and cities have always been |
| spilling out onto our pavements so that they | | | | subjected to but not so our rural |
| continue their smoking habit and very morning | | | | communities........at least not until the |
| the pavements and roads are littered with | | | | smoking ban was introduced. |