SHOULD York pubs ban smoking? That is the question being put to city drinkers today.

The idea of the survey is to inform publicans what their customers want, but the results will be of far wider interest.

New evidence about the dangers of passive smoking could lead to a resounding vote to stub it out in public. If that is the case, York should consider following Liverpool in seeking a city-wide ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants.

Otherwise, individual venues could choose to become either smoke-filled or smoke-free, offering patrons a long overdue choice.

Updated: 09:22 Tuesday, November 02, 2004