Smoking is, unfortunately, almost ubiquitous in Switzerland. The anti-smoking laws that were enacet in New Zealand and subsequently Australia about five years ago were established here in January. There's no sign of the anti-smoking culture that, for example, would embolden you at the cricket to ask that bloke three down to 'put it out'. People openly flaunt the new laws.

Additionally, there's no sign of the colossal anti-smoking campaigns we have been exposed to for the last decade or so. No Auahi Kore on every door, no massive no smoking signs, no smoke-free openair railway stations, no newspaper ads, no bus signs, no health articles that cite smoking as a rick for almost every illness, no television campaigns, no plain, unbranded cigarette boxes.

Quite the opposite, in fact. Cigarette advertisments are widespread, tabacconists also sell other things, like newspapers, an entire wall at the supermarket is afforded to smokes and smoking products. Kids smoke, parents smoke, sports people smoke, even doctors smoke. Ashtrays are ubiquitous.

Worst of all, the media. The next time you look at a photograph that accompanies an article about smoking, think about how the smoker is portrayed. Depending on the age and gender of the study, the person will be outside, on a dirty street with plenty of rubbish around. They'll look sickly and dishevelled even nervous. Maybe the photo will be focused on the smoker's mouth, wrinkled cheeks drawing in with painful dependence, stubble, grotty dental hygeine and dry lips wrapping around a stick of cancer. Their hands will be dirty. The whole image have a seediness about it.

In Switzerland, the papers and magazine's I've seen all glamourise the cigarette. Some young, hip fella blowing smoke at the photographer in a haze of self-confidence, or a sultry, unimpressed skinny model drawing wistfully on a slim stick.

The Reg's powerpoint had a small picture of two cigarette melding into a nice background. It looks classy, smoth and stylish. And it defeated the entire purpose of his presentation.

The image looked more like the glam and style on the left, than the much preferred option of a product that kills millions of people, every year, for using it only as it is designed. Nothing else that's sold will do the same thing quite as ruthlessly and painfully. Nobody Smokes Here Anymore. Here's what the picture should really look like;

If you're a smoker who's even contemplated kicking the habit, check out QuitNow, or call the QuitLine on 131848, or NZ 0800778778