Our simpering, nannying government has, once again, elected to stick both sides of its unattractive face right into the personal business of the British people; this time it seems the cabinet has agreed plans for a ban on smoking in enclosed public places in England.

Happily, public houses will be able to evade this latest act of interference by the simple expedient of ensuring that food is not made available to their customers. So for many pub regulars, life will continue as before, except that it won't be possible to order food from the bar. Who will benefit from that, in these pubs, exactly?

Smoking is of course a legal activity, which no-one has a natural right to attempt to prevent in a privately-owned establishment. So, if you're offended by the idea of inhaling cigarette smoke in a bar or restaurant where the management and patrons deem it appropriate for smoking to take place, why not piss off somewhere else instead?