Look at the tension between rights freedom of the individual, and responsibility to the public; the government’s role in this (interfering nanny or protector of citizens?); the roles of the law, medical advice, economics and tax, and media advertisers; and the ethics of making profit on a dangerous and addictive product.

Superb resources from Action on Smoking and Health (including PowerPoint presentations): www.ash.org.uk

Other views at smokingsides.comsmoking.html

Students might use the article and websites to prepare a “roadshow” on tobacco for primary feeder schools, or to explore the “rights and responsibilities” involved in Government plans to ban smoking. They might also debate: “Should smoking be outlawed?”

For more free resources go to www.thinkingeducation.co.uk