No one says passive smoking is good for you, but just how bad is it? The answer is vital in deciding public policy.
If it is just a matter of manners, smokers and nonsmokers should compromise, albeit with smokers giving most of the ground. On the other hand, if passive smoking is a health hazard then public policy must take an uncompromising stand.
With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics coming up, the government is dithering over the extent to which restrictions on passive smoking — now toothless — should be beefed up. This has been widely reported, including coverage in this newspaper. What's missing though is a clear consensus on the reasons for strengthening the regulations.