I do appreciate the reasoning behind the impending smoking ban. I wouldn’t have gone for the 100% Nanny State approach that the government have taken, but I think it’s the right message to send out.
However, I think I know what’s going to happen come tomorrow morning: a lot of money will be spent by businesses on putting up No Smoking signs at every feasible location, and those same signs will be ignored by smokers, who will continue to light up in buses, shopping centres and underground stations (after all, what’s the worst that could happen?)
One of the saddest things I read was that bingo halls may have to close down because people wouldn’t be allowed to smoke between games and would therefore just stay at home. Are people really that addicted that they would forego a social activity for their habit?