[Barrie Yates]

The ban on smoking in pubs came in UK long before it did in France, so when I went to Portsmouth to do a 3 month contract I came across the ban in full flow - even with "police" checking places out.
It was quite obvious in the Portsmouth/Gosport/Fareham and surrounding areas, that pubs who had good smoking areas, and I do mean good, even though it was summer, were the ones that were thriving - the ones who didn't cater for smokers, quite often due to location, were suffering very badly.
One thing that really P'd me off was that the bar in the House of Commons was exempt from the ban initially.
Even though I don't smoke now, I do not find much pleasure in going into a pub/club for a drink, unless United are on the TV or it is an Accyweb Meet.
It does not bother me one little bit when others smoke in my company - which surprises me somewhat.