With news that politicians in Scotland have backed plans for a smoking ban, Snifter was intrigued to hear that singer-songwriter Joe Jackson has joined a licensee-led political party in Scotland that is battling against restrictions on smoking.
Kit Fraser, Inverness bar owner and co-founder of the Publican Party, said two "big UK television names" are also interested in backing the party's fight against the smoking ban.
Jackson, whose most famous hit was "Is She Really Going Out With Him?", has campaigned against smoking bans in Europe and North America for three years.
He has written a pamphlet, "The Smoking Issue", hitting out at "corrupt science and smoking bans" and attacking antismoking lobby claims about passive smoking.
Jackson wrote offering his support to Fraser and Don Lawson, who is standing as a candidate in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey at the General Election.
"I applaud your creation of the Publican Party and if you really can get publicans united, you may achieve something," Jackson said.
"I urge you not to give up, even if a ban in Scotland looks inevitable; the harder you make it for them to pass, the harder it will be to enforce and the more likely it is to be amended."
Fraser has responded to the offer from Jackson, who lives in New York.
"I've asked if he can do a couple of fund-raising concerts. We'll just have to wait and see what he says, " Fraser added.
US singer Smokey Robinson is also thought to back the campaign, Snifter has heard (only joking).