British way of life goes up in smoke

I note yet another article in the Express & Star regarding "difficult trading conditions" for a pub chain as a result of the smoking ban.

I don't think anyone is surprised at the inevitability of it all, because for many an ordinary person "a drink and a smoke" at the local was the highlight of the week. Those people simply do not go to the pub any more when it's cold and wet, and their custom has not been taken up by all those who said they would not frequent their local because "they came home stinking of smoke".

I suspect they were not regular pub goers anyway, but it sounded righteous and correct at the time the non-smoking legislation was going through Parliament.

It seems incredible to me that one well-ventilated room in a pub could not have been set aside for smokers, provided the landlord wished to offer this facility.

I know the main arguments for banning smoking – health issues, second-hand smoke, staff rights etc – but I believe with some thought these problems could have been solved.

Smoking in restaurants or any eating establishment should have been banned many years ago and everyone agrees that non-smokers have a right to a smoke-free environment.

But a "pint and a smoke" pub is a different kettle of fish and should have been recognised as such.

I think, as a nation, we are becoming less tolerant of each other and the spiteful bit of legislation banning smoking in all pubs is simply part of the politician's desire to satisfy at least 51 per cent of the population, so they are keen to be seen to support a populist bandwagon.

To me it is all a bit academic because I don't smoke and rarely visit pubs nowadays, but I am saddened to see another bit of the traditional British way of life slowly go up in smoke.

C A Andrew, Fairoak Drive, Wolverhampton.