Actors could escape the smoking ban due to come into force in England next year if lighting up is crucial to their performance, the Department of Health revealed. Theatres, film and television crews could be exempted from the ban on smoking in enclosed public places because of worries about actors' ability to portray smokers. "The government is considering providing a specific exemption from smoke-free legislation to ensure that smoking can take place on stage during live theatrical performances, or during film and television recording, where smoking is integral to the plot or storyline," a Department of Health spokesman said. "We will be consulting with the theatre industry on what they consider integral to the plot."| The hypocrisy here is breathtaking. Remember how smoking bans are For Your Own Good®? Actors are just as prone to lung cancer as any other person in Blighty. This law is not about health, it's about control. |
Theatre companies have voiced fears that historical well-known smokers, such as Britain's cigar-loving World War II leader Winston Churchill, would be tough to portray if actors were not allowed to light up on stage. Public health minister Caroline Flint is writing to industry leaders about the ban with a view to exempting actors.| Let me make sure I got this right: The Minister for Public Health is encouraging some chosen few citizens to smoke. Gah. |
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