As a non-smoker, having had more sense and individuality than to follow my mates like a sheep, I welcome the smoking ban. Smokers are among the most inconsiderate people I’ve ever met. For years I’ve been going to pubs/clubs/gigs and never once did I smoker ask if I minded that they were potentially causing me discomfort and inflicting passive smoking on me. They complain about getting wet when they have to go outside for a fag. What about increasing your, and others, risk of lung cancer because you choose to smoke? At least getting wet is curable.

Having said that I do see the other side of the arguments from a civil liberties point, and do worry about the nanny state. In work places would it not be possible to have an area inside where smokers could go. With our current levels of technology surely we can install ventilation systems to remove the smoke from the smoking area.

Remember smokers had a choice to start smoking and have the choice to stop. Non-smokers do not if they are in enclosed public places.