Velvet Glove Iron Fist A History of Anti-Smoking

The book

Welcome. Thanks for visiting and please stay a while. Velvet Glove, Iron Fist is the first comprehensive history of the anti-smoking movement. This book has not yet been published but several chapters are available here free of charge (these are chapters three, ten, eleven and thirteen). Or you might prefer to start with the introduction.

In the news

05.08.08:Velvet Glove author obtains data from Wales showing that heart attack incidence rose after the Welsh smoking ban. Politician accused of wilfully misleading the public. See original article and this from Dr Michael Siegel, plus this from (the excellent) Reason magazine.

31.07.08: Ten months after it hit the headlines, the Scottish heart attack study has finally been published. Initial suspicions have been confirmed. Read more here.

06.07.08: The British Medical Association sets 2035 as a "realistic" date for wiping out smoking in the UK, according to the BBC.

28.06.08: ASH (USA) supports banning smoking in the home "even if no nonsmokers' health is being put at risk". Tobacco control expert Dr Michael Siegel criticises the measure here.

More news in the archive

What's new?

A selection of articles about recent events or subjects too obscure to fit into the book:

In the first five months of the Welsh smoking ban, heart attacks incidence was higher than in the previous year. No one would claim that this was related to the ban. So why, when incidence goes down, do some people attribute it to the legislation?

Cartman takes on the anti-smokers

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone talk about why they wrote an episode attacking the anti-smoking movement.

Twisted liberty

What would the great libertarian John Stuart Mill have made of the modern anti-smoking crusade?

Myths and Reality (revisited)

In October 2007, the anti-smoking pressure group Action on Smoking and Health released a press release which dismissed claims that pubs and bingo halls would see a drop in trade as a result of the smoking ban as 'myths'. This article examines how credible ASH's position is six months on. This topic is revisited here.

Publish and Be Damned looks at the claim that heart attacks fell dramatically in Scotland following the smoking ban. Updated here: Scottish Heart Miracle Unspun.

For those who might be interested, I have compiled a full, annotated list of every passive smoking study ever conducted involving women married to smokers. 64 studies are assessed in total, most of which can be downloaded in full here or here

What they're saying about Velvet Glove

"Prepare to learn a lot, and much in the nature of revelations, from a dedicated researcher and lucid prose stylist."

"Highly provocative and consistently entertaining"

"I think this is a remarkable book. It deserves to reach a wide audience."

"An absorbing read, I have just finished the history of tobacco section and was educated in an enjoyable way, I will certainly be buying this book when it is published."

"Mr. Snowdon's prose is lucid and dispassionate, his reporting is meticulous, and his research is awesome."

"Thanks for the preview, Chris...absorbing reading and easily understood by the layman."

"Absolutely epic piece of work, well done!"

"I just read everything and I think your book will be excellent. We just had a total smoking ban pass here in Louisville and I have been very curious about why this has happened so fast and to such an extreme. Your book answered many questions. I can't wait to read the rest."

Although parts of this book have been made available free of charge, all material on this website is subject to copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any party without prior written permission of Christopher Snowdon.

You can contact the author by e-mail at author@velvetgloveironfist.com

Thanks for visiting!

I got my freedom back already:

I buy Native American cigs from the original cultivators of the crop and smoke them in the privacy of my own home.

It’s the rest of the country I worry about.

41 posted on 08/22/2008 2:40:44 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)

To: Eric Blair 2084

Oh, sorry.
I didn’t mean you specifically.

I meant all of us.

42 posted on 08/22/2008 2:54:32 PM PDT by fanfan (SCC:Canadians have constitutional protection to all opinions, as long as they are based on the facts)

To: fanfan; SheLion

No reason to ever apologize to me, fanfan.

I appreciate when people call me a dumbass.

I’m a dumbass. You’re a dumbass. We’re all dumbasses. We’re just human.

The difference is that conservatives understand that the “government by the people and for the people” are full of dumbasses and seek to limit their power, while liberals believe that these dumbasses can solve all of the world’s ills and want to give their neighbors (the aforementioned dumbasses more power over their lives).

One day, I hope that the sheeple will realize this is not about annoying “smoke” but control.

I love how you pinged SheLion. She will always be #1 on my ping list. I’m sure she is looking down from Heaven and smiling.

43 posted on 08/22/2008 3:21:45 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)

To: Eric Blair 2084

One day, I hope that the sheeple will realize this is not about annoying “smoke” but control.

Sadly, it will only happen when "they", come for "them".

I love how you pinged SheLion. She will always be #1 on my ping list. I’m sure she is looking down from Heaven and smiling.

Agreed, Eric. She Lion will always be with us.

:-D

44 posted on 08/22/2008 3:45:13 PM PDT by fanfan (SCC:Canadians have constitutional protection to all opinions, as long as they are based on the facts)

To: Eric Blair 2084

Hold on a sec.

When did I call you a dumbass?

I wouldn’t do that.

To you?

LOL.

45 posted on 08/22/2008 3:51:50 PM PDT by fanfan (SCC:Canadians have constitutional protection to all opinions, as long as they are based on the facts)

Thank you for turning me on to roll your owns. You will be sorely missed lady. Sniff.

46 posted on 08/22/2008 3:54:05 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (Gone fishin.)

I’ll bet you start hacking when you read stories like this as well.

47 posted on 08/22/2008 4:16:40 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)

Sugar is next, you’ve been warned.

48 posted on 08/22/2008 4:18:28 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)

You’re right about the idea of focus on medical expense but none of the moneys extracted through taxes and legal settlements have made their way to pay for such.

However we have over 200 anti-smoking organizations today still sidling up to the trough.

Like I said, sugar is next (contains lots of carbon, you know).

49 posted on 08/22/2008 4:24:51 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)

To: Old Professer; Nipfan

The one thing I learned is that you have to be patient with our fellow citizens and even sometimes "conservatives". They still think that all of this money and effort was spent so that they wouldn't ever have to be annoyed by stinky smoke. They are not bad people. The real reason for the discrimination was never published in the MSM papers they read. It's hard for people to believe this could happen in America.

50 posted on 08/22/2008 4:31:25 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)

I have always hated cigarettes and never wanted to be anywhere near smokers.

Then don't go where the smokers are and leave us the hell alone.

51 posted on 08/22/2008 7:10:03 PM PDT by elkfersupper

It keeps us smokers from beating supercilious twits like you to a pulp.

Yup.

52 posted on 08/22/2008 7:16:36 PM PDT by elkfersupper

“Most of the really draconian laws are, rightly or wrongly, based on the idea of medical expenses borne by society as a result of smoking.”

At minimum, this comment shows that you acknowledge that socialist policies will inevitably lead to fascist policies. In this case, the “costs to society” for health care is clearly socialist and it has lead to the fascist trampling of private property rights.

The sad part is that many FReepers seem to think this is entirely appropriate.

53 posted on 08/25/2008 7:50:00 AM PDT by CSM (Hey if a small tax increase didn't work, a bigger tax increase should not work even BETTER!)

“Conservatives are just mirror images of Libs.”

I don’t agree at all. However, if you replace “conservatives” with “Republicans” then I would whole heartedly agree. I still consider Conservatism to be in existence, it is just getting harder to see in our society. Republicans have all but kicked them out of the party.

54 posted on 08/25/2008 8:16:17 AM PDT by CSM (Hey if a small tax increase didn't work, a bigger tax increase should not work even BETTER!)

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Velvet Glove Iron Fist
A History of Anti-Smoking

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