Sigh... Here we go again.

1. The smoking ban is NOT closing pubs. It is indeed a contributory factor but in a worsening reccesionary economy and a scenario where pub drinks are often two, three or many times more expensive than supermarket drinks people are going to chose what their pockets dictate.

2. Some pubs are reporting that business is not declining and more are reporting that profits are up. Why? Possibly because the better pubs are reaping the benefits of the the closure of those that are not as good?

3. The breweries and pub companies had had years and years to fix the problem They have known for a very log time indeed that there was a need to provide a smoke free environment for some people but they chose profit over sense. Not a single pub in my area, and many others, even attempted to provide a 'smokeless zone'. Yet they are agrieved that someone forced them to.

and btw - I smoke the occasional cigar and did use considerably more in the past. I was always prepared to put the comfort of other people over my own. It is no great inconvenience to go outside.

DeG