ALTHOUGH I am not a smoker, I do not agree with a total ban on smoking in public places as proposed by the Government.

I do like to be able to go out for a drink or a meal without having to worry about the effects of passive smoking, but I'm sure a lot of smokers like to go out for a drink or a meal too.

Pubs and restaurants should be allowed to choose whether they go no-smoking or not. Then those who oppose the right to smoke can go to non-smoking restaurants or pubs and smokers can still go where they will be treated as human beings and not as pariahs.

I don't believe for a second that the proposed ban on smoking in public places will cause a fall in the number of smokers. Nor do I think it will have any effect on the number of young people who start to smoke.

My only argument with smokers is that I wish when they are walking round town they wouldn't trail their cigarettes by their side risking burning someone.

I've had quite a few near misses recently and I don't appreciate having holes burned in my coat sleeve.

Richard Greaves,

Morehall Close, York.

Updated: 11:11 Thursday, November 18, 2004