Some government agencies just don’t have their priorities straight and it makes life tough for everyone. Clare and Paul Baker in theU.K., applied to be foster parents but were rejected after the Paul said he smoked two cigars in the previous 18 months.

Apparently, the Essex County Council had an archaic and overreaching policy that required short-term foster parents of children under five must be tobacco-free for 12 months. Paul, believing that he should be honest to the agency, mentioned that he had a cigar at his brother’s wedding and another at an office party. He also said that he never smoked at home.