Doesn't bother me any........

From BBC.co.uk:

MPs have voted by a huge margin to ban smoking from all pubs and private members' clubs in England.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the change, expected to take effect in summer 2007, would "save thousands of people's lives".

Ministers gave a free vote amid fears Labour MPs could rebel against plans to exempt clubs and pubs not serving food.

The Commons decided by a margin of 200 to impose a ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces.

Cabinet votes

The Cabinet was split on how far restrictions - set out in the Health Bill - should go, with Conservatives calling government policy a "shambles".

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Chancellor Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Charles Clarke all voted for a blanket ban.

But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, Defence Secretary John Reid and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly opposed it.

Smoking is already to be banned in pubs and clubs in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Health Bill gives the Welsh Assembly the right to decide for itself whether to implement a ban it has already twice approved in principle.

Ms Hewitt, who voted for a total ban for England, told the BBC: "I'm absolutely delighted. This is really a historic day for public health."

She added: "This is going to save thousands of people's lives."

'Illiberal'

Elspeth Lee, of Cancer Research UK, said: "This is really going to affect generations to come and make the nation a lot healthier."

However, Simon Clark, director of smoking support group Forest, said: "This is a double whammy and an unnecessary and illiberal piece of legislation that denies freedom of choice to millions of people.

"The Government should educate people about the health risks of smoking but politicians have no right to force people to quit by making it more difficult for people to consume a legal product."

Earlier, health minister Caroline Flint said fines for failing to stop people smoking in restricted areas would go up by more than ten times from £200 to £2,500.

She said: "I am confident that these increased fine levels will result in better compliance with smoke-free legislation, which of course, will make enforcement easier."

The Cabinet originally proposed prohibiting smoking only in pubs serving food, in line with Labour's election manifesto.

A free vote was offered after many Labour MPs, fearing a partial ban could increase health inequalities among customers and staff, threatened to rebel.

Ministers came up with three choices: a total ban; exempting private clubs; or exempting clubs and pubs not serving food.

Many MPs opposed a smoking ban on civil liberties grounds.

'Good news'

The government predicts an estimated 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of the law change.

Conservative MPs were offered a free vote on the issue.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said ministers had "put forward proposals which their own backbenchers thought were completely unworkable".

But it was "a very important step", he added there "had to be a culture that encourages better health".

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said: "This legislation is good news for tens of thousands of bar staff up and down the country.

"The key issue has always been the health and safety of people who work in public places."

Tory leader David Cameron missed the vote following the birth of his third child, a son, earlier on Tuesday.

In a recent report, the Commons health select committee said a total ban was the "only effective means" of protecting public health.

[JuZ]

I love the fact that the smokers support group is called "Forest"!!! That's like a gun club calling itself Fluffy Puppy Friendship Club With Extra Hugs and Kisses.

Ok, maybe that's a little harsh, but to claim it's a denial of liberties is to ignore the fact that every time a smoker lights up in an enclosed area they're denying other people's right to NOT smoke and end up with one tobacco-related illness or another. Just because you have the legal right to do something doesn't mean you have the right to do it where it harms other people.

I can see why some smokers would be pissed off that they now can't do something they used to be able to do, but beyond that I really can't see much of an argument. I know plenty of smokers that now go out of their way to avoid inflicting their cancerous plumes on other people. They seem to cope well enough.

every time a smoker lights up in an enclosed area they're denying other people's right to NOT smoke and end up with one tobacco-related illness or another.

Maybe, but by that reasoning every time you use your car you're denying someone else's right not to inhale your exhaust gas or the smog it helps create... and that's responsible for killing plenty of people too...

[EphelDuath666]

I've quit smoking 3 years ago so PAHAHAHAHAHA to all of you who feel negatively affected by this...

nah, just kidding. Dunno...would make more sense to seperate bars for smokers and non-smokers, no? That would make everybody happy.

How about separate hemispheres for smokers and non-smokers?

(I quit 6 months ago-ish. )

I don't have a major problem with it although they really should leave perhaps one room for smokers, or have a covered outdoor section wherever possible.

They're phasing out smoking in all pubs and clubs here in Oz at the moment too. At present it's allowed in one room and that room can't account for any more than 25% of the pub/club's floor space.

Still, although I'm a smoker, I understand why and I won't be too worried when it's banned completely. I'm happy to duck outside for a puff (although in winter it can suck).

trust me its soooo much better without. Its been like this for a little while now in OZ and now when I go home from the pub I don't smell like an astray's ass.

I knew a lot of people who wouldn't go to the pub because of the smell factor.

Here in the states (Colorado) we are undergoing this change as well. I found that it is much better without. I quit smoking nearly 3 years ago. Prior to quitting I had hoped for a ban on smoking in public places. Even as a smoker the "cloud" in the bars are restaurants was so overwhelming most of the time that I didn't need to smoke, everyone else was doing it for me! There are still some places like the major cities (the Denver metro area) that still allow it, but north of there is pretty much all non-smoking. It's great!! Even my smoker friends are enjoying it now that they have had a taste of both. They all much prefer the non-smoking places.

I have to say that I like the idea of separate hemisphere's for smokers and non-smokers though!!!

[EphelDuath666]

I quit smoking nearly 3 years ago.

hurrah for us!

I have to say that I like the idea of separate hemisphere's for smokers and non-smokers though!!!

It would put people off lighting up!

*Gets cigarettes out*
"Excuse me, sorry, you'll have to go the smoking area to do that. Here's a map. It's 7000KM south-west from here."

every time a smoker lights up in an enclosed area they're denying other people's right to NOT smoke and end up with one tobacco-related illness or another.

Maybe, but by that reasoning every time you use your car you're denying someone else's right not to inhale your exhaust gas or the smog it helps create... and that's responsible for killing plenty of people too...

Yeah, but transportation of goods and people does at least serve some benefit to our society, whereas smoking is an entirely useless activity.

I am sooo happy about this, it's going to be so nice to be able to go out for a meal without having to worry about comnig home smelling of smoke and not being able to taste the food because of the levels of smoke in the air

Yes! For Germany too, please!

We have this in Sweden already, and I don't mind stepping out for a smoke. It's actually good because you don't smoke as much if you have to go through the hassle of moving outside.
It's funny though, when smoking at pubs was banned people started to smell what the places REALLY smelled like...Piss and vomit!

I'll be in Chicago when this comes into effect, but I think it's a good thing.

1. I always want a fag when I've had a drink.
2. I hate the smell of smoke on my clothes, hair, skin etc... at the end of a night.

[Blazingmonga]

This is one of the best things to come out of British politics in a long time, in my generation for sure. (OK, that's a bit of an overstatement probably, but this is important).

A friend of mine said something that really put all this in perspective. He said that the way the law stands at the moment, if you were to walk into a pub and set fire to a piece of raw sulphur and spread toxic sulphurous fumes everywhere, that would be unacceptable. However, when people light up cigarettes in such places, the outcome is the same.

(if you read this Jim, sorry for the quote/mis-quote! Cheers!)

Now, if people want to smoke and do these things to themselves, that's fine...but forcing others to join in is totally wrong.

So....yay!