Comment: The dangers of smoking

We live in an increasingly regulated society. Nowhere is that more true than in the worlds of healthcare and business. So as a market that spans both of these worlds the optical retail community sees far more than its fair share of rules and regulations.

The ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces, which comes into force this summer, is likely to see a change for ever in the way society views smoking and smokers. Tobacco consumption is a divisive issue. One man's freedom to enjoy a cigarette is another's passive carcinogen, but the story doesn't end there. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg of lawsuits surrounding tobacco and smoking looks likely to be banned in more and more areas.