I always find that during a gig in a pub with smokers present (even if the atmosphere doesn't seem particularly smoky at the time), my voice gets 'croaky' towards the end of the evening. I never get this effect in a totally smoke-free environment (like the folk clubs I go to regularly). I can only conclude that smoke in the atmosphere adversely affects my voice or throat somehow. (I am a non-smoker myself of course, or it probably wouldn't make any difference.)

So I will benefit from the smoking ban in pubs and have to say I'm in favour, although I sympathise with those who say it's another personal freedom being taken away by this government (but against this is the freedom of people like me to not have to breathe in smoke emitted by other people :-))

Interestingly, a few smokers I know personally are actually in favour of the ban, because they say it will give them the kick up the backside they need, to give it up - they say it'll be the one thing that will help them stop! But I guess they are in the minority, judging by the comments from smokers in this thread and others I've seen elsewhere.