Both Linda and I frequently drink at JD Wetherspoon pubs. Although these do have non-smoking areas, the air-conditioning is usually good enough to make it quite acceptable to sit in other parts of their pubs.

My worries about an outright ban on smoking in pubs is that we will lose even more pubs as a result. The statistics above (25% smokers, 75% non-smokers) are based on the population as a whole. I think that if you excluded the many people who very rarely go to pubs, that you would would find that the proportions would change to much nearer 50/50. If you then weighted the result by the value of pub trade that the smoking/non-smoking groups provided, I think the smokers would probably provide the higher figure. In the area around me, we have lost a high percentage of pubs in the last 10 years - I can think of at least a dozen within about a five mile radius. I'm sure that we would lose at least that number again if a smoking ban became law.

I'm a non-smoker (well I used to enjoy the odd joint when I was younger) and will not stay in an exessively smoky atmosphere. I don't let anyone smoke in my car, and on one occasion turned down a car bargain because the owner had smoked. There is a low level of smoke which I find tolerable, and provided that this is not exceeded I am quite happy.

I also feel that if the majority of a pub's regular clientele are smokers, then it's a bit unreasonable for a relative stranger to expect them to to change to suit him. After all there are plenty of pubs where loud pop music, lack of decent beer, or just the general decor or atmosphere would prevent me from drinking - why should I single out smoke as anything different. I'm actually rather glad that there's a place for people who like those pubs, as it keeps them from trying to change the pubs which I like.

Folk clubs are perhaps a slightly different matter, but there are quite a few performers who I can think of who are smokers. How many performers would turn down a well-paid gig because the premises weren't non-smoking ? Mind you you, when Joe Stead was younger, he hated people smoking in the front row and would often drop their cigarettes into their drinks.

Finally as was proved the other month at the White Horse, Hertford, there can be other reasons for a smoky room beside tobacco !