The madness of the nanny state

I thought the depths of stupidity had been plumbed when I heard that in Scotland, a tobacconist offering a pipe smoker a sample, must insist he tries it outside the shop, for being enclosed public space, the shop is merely an off-license for the weed.

But now it seems you cannot even act the part of a smoker in Scotland. On the stage you are only allowed to pretend to smoke. Mel Smith, playing Churchill, is forbidden a cigar on penalty of the theatre losing its license. How mad is that?