Letter: Smoke screens

Sir: David Aaronovitch's anti-smoking rant, although somewhat over-stated (typical of the born-again non-smoker), pales into insignificance when compared with the attitude of the authorities of some London buses towards smokers.

For them smoking has reached the status of an immoral act. Those caught evading paying their fare are penalised with a pounds 10 fine; those who dare to light up the evil weed are fined pounds 1,000. These people clearly believe smoking to be 10 times worse than dishonesty, theft and fraud. I'd rather be visited by a smoker than by someone who is likely to walk off with the family silver.

JEAN-MARC EVANS

London N3