What if the government refuses to ban smoking in public places?

Credit :FRAN VEALE/GETTY IMAGES According to this framework for action a large number of public health professionals should devote a great deal of energy to winning the hearts and minds of city councillors, business leaders, trade unions, company bosses, and community leaders to act to limit or ban smoking in public places and in places of work. How should the public health community and the health service respond? I suggest that if the government misses the present opportunity then all of us in the health service should jointly write to ministers to say that we will withdraw from all further activity to control tobacco disown all targets on reducing the prevalence of smoking and refuse to carry out or fund surveys of smoking prevalence, and refuse to supply data on smoking cessation services.