A ban too far
With regard to Lesley Riddoch's piece (Opinion, 9 August), there can be no more futile human activity than paying large sums of money to breathe in smoke then blow it out again, but treating smokers as lepers is a step too far by those in authority.
Grampian NHS may have the right to control where its staff are or are not allowed to engage in this legal activity, but what about when?
Presumably such workers are off duty, outside the workplace, and therefore free to indulge in any legal recreational activity whether in uniform or not. How can this possibly harm patients? That would surely be the only grounds on which health service employers would be entitled to control any behaviour by its employees.
Smoking is a disgusting and incredibly stupid habit, but this creeping totalitarian control is a much greater danger to society.
ROBERT DOW
Ormiston Road
Tranent, East Lothian