I read with great interest that tobacco advertising is being banned on all media including the Internet. I agree 100 per cent that this advertising must be condemned at all costs.

We have all read about the ill-effects of smoking, So, if you want to die young, it's up to you, but absolutely no one has the right to encourage others to leave this life at a premature age. Life is very precious and we must do everything possible to preserve it.

Malta is really a pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse because in one place one can see a huge bill board discouraging smoking, and a few metres away, another one promoting it! Ridiculous indeed! With this EU directive in force, the constant war against the tobacco industry continues, and the pressure on the Health Promotion Department will hopefully be eased and consequently, it will be able to focus more on other likely places where smoking is encouraged, like for example the illegal pushers among vulnerable schoolchildren.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Health Promotion Department for continuously striving to promote good health among people living in Malta and Gozo.

Charles Micallef

FGURA