Exactly, reason I like the Lib Dems is usually they're against this unnecessary bollocks, but I personally was very annoyed when Ed Davey endorsed the smoking controls.
Felt very anti-Liberal to me.
I don't think it's right to not vote, but people shouldn't be forced to do it under threat of punishment.
I think with hindsight the smoking legislation could have been tweeked slightly, but the problem was it was a cast iron measure to cut out smoking altogether.
I would have just banned smoking in establishments that served hot food. Because the scenario you've got now is old style back street boozers (what's left of them) the punters are just smoking in the street. Also the ones that do smoke outside in the gardens are rammed, while any no smoking area is virtually empty.
Might have exaggerated that a bit too much.
The measures apart from health were made to appease those that will never support a back street boozer, so you've drove the smokers out and those that don't like smoking are rarely seen in that type of establishment.
I'm not sure, maybe Bwood might know, but I thought Spain did it based on size of the establishment. Anyhow they are never going to change it and the intention is to drive out smoking altogether hence now being based on the year you were born.
The next thing to be attacked will be alcohol, it's sort of on that path already, but it will not happen in my lifetime, but restrictions will become tougher and tougher, brewers are already lowering the strength of beers to keep the price down (tax) and of course the no alcohol market has exploded.
Although I've seen punters engaged in strength of beers and refusing to buy the lower priced stuff and I can't say I blame them.
Think if I was a decade or two younger I would have considered getting into the micro pub market but I've not got any experience at working in bars. I've seen good ones, I've seen not so good ones and I've seen some fail because the owners heart was never really in it to graft - and in tough times you can't afford staff.
If I won the lottery I'd open one up just as a hobby but employ staff to run it.