The GUV'NOR

Although the National Association of Licensed House Managers (NALHM) is part of the Transport and General Workers Union, we rebelled against its take on the smoking ban.

We have to take it to task on its stance because the majority of NALHM members

I have spoken to are still

pro-choice when it comes

to the smoking debate.

I am a lifelong non-smoker and spent 30 years as a manager immersed in other people's tobacco smoke. And yet we are all living longer despite the so-called dangers of passive smoking.

Although the ban has been outlined, I think my solution would have suited us better.

If individuals really are concerned about second-hand smoke then I think a sign could be put outside a pub stating "smoking allowed". That would leave individuals to make their own choice. This concept is called personal responsibility.

When a small group of people attempt to push

their own jaundiced views

on pub customers it is

called oligarchy - the rule of the minority over the majority.

That is what happened. Our elected officials are our servants and in office for one purpose - to serve our needs, both smokers and non-smokers.

Surely a better solution would have been a partial ban with a review after three years.

My view is firmly that the Government that governs less governs best.

I get the feeling the people who do not smoke don't really care one way or the other.

I believe it is only a very small group of smoke-haters that want to see the ban enforced.

Maybe the non-smokers will be pressed into action against this band of

do-gooders when the ban comes into force and maybe, and hopefully, the ban will be rescinded in part or full by 2008.

Can the big companies do more to help? Come on, jobs are at stake here. Alcohol will be next.