Drink talking: Mark Fuller 'Why I've stopped visiting pubs'

I am a keen live music fan and enjoy going to see bands I've never heard of. As anyone of a similar disposition will tell you, nine out of 10 times the band will usually be pretty poor but on the one in 10 you get to see something really special and that's where the buzz comes from for live music fans.

My point is I had already started to cut back because of the silly prices of beer after successive tax rises but my biggest issue now is the difficulties the smoking ban has brought.

At first it was an inconvenience and I continued to support live music. But as time wore on and the weather deteriorated it started to become a real pain.

It also became very noticeable that the customers were staying away having an extremely detrimental effect on the atmosphere inside these venues.

Then I started to come across the following situations:

• A beer garden (with shelter and some heat) was closed after a certain time and I had to stand out front on the street;
• I was outside a pub which had a kicking IN time so no late smoke outside.
• Being told I cannot take my drink outside.
• Another place after a certain time asked customers to smoke on the other side of the road!

After being pushed from pillar to post I can no longer muster the enthusiasm to go out to see an unknown band, knowing the odds of seeing something good are against me, and not even being able to enjoy a smoke with my now expensive beer.

As things stand, people would much rather invite friends round for a drink, smoke and listen to music. I believe this has helped fuel the rise in binge-drinking as optic measures are not used and things can get a bit out of hand without the guiding hand of an experienced landlord.

So I am working on a solution, which I intend to run as a petition on the Downing Street website.

I would like to start a campaign for an "Air quality law" instead of an outright ban, where filters and ionisers are installed to meet an agreed air quality standard. Pubs will then have the option to make these improvements or remain smoke free.

I wonder if this could happen?