Kilkline:
I'm in favour of the ban primarily in restaurants as it does p1ss me off severely if someone lights up when I'm eating. I agree not to break wind at the dinner table, they should agree not to smoke. Simple.
As a smoker with friends who are in the main none smokers I couldn't agree with you more, in fact no smoking in pubs hasn't bothered me since I always used to sit in no smoking parts with friends who didn't smoke...and as someone has pointed out there's the added social aspect of popping outside and chatting with people you wouldn't normally chat to....It's not a big deal, there are benefits, you smoke less and you don't come home smelling like a dirty ashtray.