Hi Richard
Once again we have a different view on the law ;-0 !
One of New York's greatest judges, Learned Hand (great name isn't it) in the 1930's said, "one's right to wave one's hand ends at another's cheek..."
Eating fat is not going to kill the person at the next table. On the other hand, I have never smoked, and yet growing up in a house filled with three smokers gave me childhood cronic asthma. If my parents poured whiskey down my throat and affected my health in the same way, would they not be charged with child abuse?
Tobbaco, at least in the US is a controlled substance, a drug, not a food, not a right. If one needs to feed one's addiction, the law should alow that they do that without impact on another's health. There is a simple solution for people who like music and are addicted to smoking, miss a moment to go out side, and not kill the band or other listeners. This isn't puritainism, it is good ecconomic planing. Second hand smoking costs the health care system in both our contries a conciderable amount of money. Even discarding the pain of illness, there is a social expence.
As ever in friendly dispute.
Larry