Children at risk from parents who smoke

In voicing his opposition to the proposal to ban smoking in cars, John Mallon (Irish Examiner, Apr 12) states that “... a responsible parent will not smoke with young children present anyway, whether it is in their car or their home”.

If he observes the world around him he will see that a significant number of his fellow smokers do not meet his criteria for being responsible parents.

Prof John Crown makes a very valid point when he states that “it is possible to rationalise almost anything, when the drive behind it is to protect your access to the drug you crave. The disordered thinking of the addict will lead to them rationalising that they are at liberty to place children in environments which are known to promote disease”. We should bear these words in mind when considering arguments on this subject.