General English Level 6 Version 2.1 © 2004 acl Pty Ltd GELEV6 Unit 02 Topic 03.doc  WRITING 06 and DISCUSSION 07 A letter to the editor In this activity we will practise writing and sharing opinions. 1. Read the editorial. 2. Think about whether you agree with it or not. 3. Write a letter to the editor expressing your opinion. 4. Share your opinions with your classmates. Read their letters. OPINION Last Gasp For Smokers Last week the government announced plans to ban smoking in all cafes and restaurants. From the first of next month diners will no longer have to eat through clouds of cigarette smoke. Anyone caught lighting up a cigarette inside a café or restaurant will face a $2000 fine and the restaurant owners themselves face fines of up to $10,000. This decision comes after years of work from health officials and anti–smoking groups to get governments to take some action on this serious health issue. The effects of passive smoking (the smoke you breathe from others’ cigarettes), have been shown to be more harmful than actually smoking yourself. Of course many smokers complain that this ban is an attack on their freedom of choice and they should have the right to smoke wherever they like. However many health officials and anti-smoking groups say the bans do not go far enough. They are calling for smoking to be banned in all public places. A spokesperson for the anti-smoking group “Butt Out!” says their next plan is to get smoking banned from hotels, bars and sporting venues. Finally the government is taking some action about this public health issue that each year costs the state millions of dollars and thousands of lives. The next question is when will the government go the whole way and completely ban the sale of cigarettes. 57