Another step towards total governmental control. First compulsory ID cards now a smoking ban. Soon the inevitable FURTHER tax increases to cover the lost revenue. Not to mention the destruction of small businesses such as independant pubs.
Is this really about control - or safety? Where is MY control, as a non-smoker, if people can puff away right next to me and give me cancer whenever they like? Too many people think that just because they want to do something, they should be able to. So what if I want to have hardcore S and M sex in the middle of the supermarket? Or stand outside a school sacrificing live chickens? Neither of these will give anyone cancer, but I bet you no one would want their kids exposed to it.
As for independent pubs being put out of business, it's not as if people can go and spend their money at a big chain pub instead where they can smoke; they won't be able to smoke anywhere!