Smoking - a step too far?

When Liverpool was trying to get smoking banned in public places and workplaces I was 100 percent in support. I was delighted when this actually became the law. It didn't conflict with Liberalism because this was about individuals not being forced to breathe in other people's smoke (secondary smoking).


But whatever we think about smoking and whether or not people should smoke, the government's latest suggestions are going too far.

Keeping cigarettes under the counter, and banning packs of ten,will do nothing to stop young people smoking. These measures would simply be an attack on an existing adult freedom that is not of itself harming anyone else. I don't think you should harm your health by smoking, but as long as you are not harming others health by doing that, it is quite frankly none of my business.

The argument that displays of cigarettes are attractive and so persuade young people to attempt to buy is particularly mad. Cigarette displays are no more attractive in appearance than displays of, say, toothpaste. Anyway, in a supermarket surely the most attractive display area is the fruit - and we don't assume this will cause a lot more apply buying among under 18s.

Surely the point is to give young people the information and arguments so that they can make decisions about whether or not to attempt to smoke. Sticking things under the counter is a good way of making them seem more desirable!

Garston Embassy event - 31 May

Next weekend the Garston Cultural Village project has another event which sounds like it will be great fun.

Using a former school on Wellington Street in Garston Village (tocky tech to those who know it) there's going to be the opening of the Garston Embassy. There'll be a ticker tape parade, a President, a band etc.

There are flyers and teaser posters all over the area - so hopefully there'll be a big turnout. It all starts at 2 30 on Saturday 31st.

It's part of the Biennial and I understand there are also "pavillion" projects in Kirkdale and Kensington.

Youth Live - anniversary already

I can hardly believe this, but we are soon to celebrate the first anniversary of our first edition of Youth Live magazine!

It only seems like yesterday that we were at Radio Merseyside having the party for edition one.

Since then the team of young people has grown, as has the team of volunteers. And the magazine has gone through changes based on talking to potential readers.

Youth Live exists to provide opportunities for young people to get involved in writing, editing, designing and so on.

If you want to know more, have a look at www.youthlive.co.uk

On the board!

I have been appointed to the Executive Board on Liverpool City Council! I was offered the position last week, but it only became official on Tuesday as it had to go through at the Council AGM. I am now the Executive Member for Ethical Governance. It's a new portfolio so I am spending the next week having loads of briefing meetings and setting things up.

It's going to be a big challenge, but the more I read my way into it the more I can see how there's lots that can be done.

Eurovision!!!

A plug for this blog. One of my work colleagues has gone to Serbia as one of the UK experts on the Eurovision Song Contest.

Hub Festival

I was revising for my Mastermind recording at the weekend so I couldn't go to this.

Reading this story now though I wish I had!

Expecting the most

I was listening to Diane Abbot's Desert Island Discs earlier today. One incident from her past struck me. She talked about how she had spoken to a teacher about attempting to get into Oxbridge and had effectively been told she wasn't up to it. She replied that she thought she was up to it.... and wasn't that the point?

She's obviously someone who carried on despite some low expectations. But I wonder how many other youngsters achieve a lot less than they could because of the low expectations of teachers, parents or others.

It strikes me that poverty of aspiration is almost worse than material poverty.

Obviously it would be wrong to give young people the impression they could achieve things that are always going to be way beyond them. But surely we need to make sure they can aim realistically high.

There are schools in which high attainment is seen as employment in the local catering or retail sectors. And there is nothing wrong with working in either of those fields. But youngsters will probably never think they can be doctors, or company directors etc if they are constantly given the impression - by their school and adults around them - that they are destined to work in a hotel.

I guess its all down to role models - to children and young people seeing that "people like me"can achieve all sorts of things.