Governments cannot simply ban smoking since it would be too electorally unpopular. The basis of this idea is not to stop people from smoking but to stop the next generation from starting to smoke.

Also, there is no need for a black market in tobacco to arise since current smokers will have access to legal tobacco purchases.

You are right, the goal is to stop new smokers from starting. But trying to restrict it this way only makes it 'cooler' and more alluring to young people. And people with licences and low ethics will take advantage of that.

Young people aren't allowed to drink. It doesn't stop them.

Banning smoking, even in this format, won't work, just like it doesn't work for any other drug.

Removing the idea in youth culture that smoking is 'cool' is the best way to stop its uptake. Obviously easier said than done. But some clever (anti)marketing could achieve this.

After all, quitting smoking is much harder than starting.

Yes, Michale got it entirely wrong as LB said, I guess he's a drinker, not a smoker.

Mate, I've never heard of anyone kicking someone to death, or near death, in the street, outside a night club, because they had had too many cigarettes.

However it's a very quiet week where this does not happen in south east Queensland at least once thanks to alcohol. I think a change in the subject of your proposed licence would make a bit more sense.

Not much more, but still more.

A valiant effort Michael Lardelli:

your thoughts contribute a lateral thinking logic to the debate on the evils of smoking.

Over the years I have noticed a steady decline in the absence of smoking in public areas; advancement wrested by stealth and gently pressure of many Government reforms which have produced positive results for the comfort of non-smokers.

Your idea meritoriously pushes reforms in the direction focusing on elimination of future addicts: I believe that now is the time to extend reforms in the direction of prevention.

The most obvious preventative measure against smoking which Government can assist is a continual increase in the tax on cigarettes; tax reform has proved a very successful tool, and apart from the political cost, is easy to implement and has the added advantage of improving government revenue. Taxing cigarettes directly impacts on smokers as a discouragement to continued smoking.

If the government were really serious about wanting smokers to quit they would put nicotine patches etc on the PBS. Instead they keep punishing them with tax increases. Its just simple greed. Any assertion that they care about peoples health is just rubbish.

Thank you for your thoughts on decreasing smoking in the Australian population. I do have problems with the licencing idea. I tend to think that this will cause a black market of people buying packets for people without licences at a higher rate. This effectively criminalises people for smoking without a licence.

I don't think Australia is doing too badly on this scale. We seem to have some of the strictest smoking environments in the world. All you have to do is travel and feel the difference. Throughout Asia and the UK I have found it difficult getting used to sitting in dining halls or pubs and having peoples smoke drift over the table. The malls in Australia are getting Designated Outside Smoking Areas, sporting evets have DOSAs and entertainment areas have DOSAs. You see people outside hospitals crowded together smoking outside. It has become anti social here. It will change slowly.

I do like the idea that you are trying to support a transitional change, but attitudes are changing.

Alcohol is another matter. Alcohol can cause cancer to nearly every organ in your body. Many alcohol related deaths are not recorded as such, such as many motor accidents. I do think there needs to be free will to a degree in society. We have laws about smoking in cars with children and where you can light up. This is positive change. Enforcing more control is not always the answer.