That is all who are still concerned with going out - I didn’t go out much before the smoking ban (too much webstuff to do), but I found myself sitting outside a pub in the ’summer sunshine’ last week and I concluded that as I don’t drink alcohol and hate the other stuff they serve in pubs there’s pretty much no point me wasting my time and money visiting them any more.

Has the ban deterred me from smoking / reduced the amount I smoke? Nope! But it’s a nicer world for non-smokers, providing that all of their friends are non-smokers, and the research indicates that this is likely to be the case (peer pressure is a wonderful thing - I know!)

In the longer term this may actually work - I’ve been to a couple of 18th birthday parties and there were about three of us smokers. Over time the disassociation of smoking and socialising has to positively impact on wouldbe smokers, but those of us who already smoke are least likely to be affected in a positive way.

Now we not only have an addictive behaviour, smelly clothes, hair, fingers, no money and the perpetual worry about our health, but we’re ostracised in public. People may ask ‘why don’t you just give it up then?’ If only!

Anyway - apologies - comment turned into a rant!