On a personal level I will be now able to visit Spanish restaurants in the winter. At least in the summer I can head straight to the window and open it very wide to be able to withstand the inevitable smoking not just the puros after the meals but quite often cigarettes before and during the meals.

Not a health issue for me at all. I just prefer to be able to breathe. Being in the presence of cigarette smoke for a few minutes makes me blocked up for a couple of days.

Yes I have no problem at all with people smoking. I just don't want to be in their presence when they do.

But I am surprised that more bars and restaurants in Spain did not declare themselves as non-smoking to capture the non-smoking market.

Clearly people in Spain are much more tolerant to smoke than I am. If there is a group it seems they will be more likely to accommodate the smokers than the non-smokers and go to a smoking restaurant.

Everybody has their own definition of "anti-social table habits". I suspect many table smokers would find belching or flatulence or urinating at the table unacceptable despite being perfectly natural consequences of consuming good food and wine.

It is all about externalities. As Martin said: "One person's freedom ends, where anothers person's freedom begins".

And on that I have no problem at all with heroin, marijuana or other drug use in public or even at a restaurant table provided it is not smoked. Drug injection or snorting at the table is fine with me. And tobacco snuff taking is also perfectly fine as well.

Not a health issue for me at all. Just externalities.

''I popped in to a local bar in El Raso for a coffee the other day – only the weather was so nice I decided to sit outside in the sunshine. I picked up the menu and was about to order some lunch when a middle-aged English couple plonked themselves down on the next table and promptly lit up a couple of Benson and Hedges.

Within seconds I was inhaling as much nicotine as they were – and these particular ciggies were just the first of four each that these two unfortunate drug addicts poisoned themselves with in the next hour or so.

Fortunately, I wasn’t there to share the joy of passively permeating my lungs and clothes with the fumes of their cancer sticks. I had long since upped myself and moved to another area of the bar where no one was polluting the air.

OK, 30 years after giving up my own 20-a-day habit, I accept that I’m a boring, sanctimonious old ex-smoker.

But where’s the justice when an innocuous woman having a quiet coffee has to move in order to accommodate people indulging in an unhealthy, unsocial, even life-threatening habit?

Surely it’s the smokers who should be banished. Preferably to a suitably-title Cancer Corner that might help them realise just how much damage they are doing to themselves and everyone else.

All I can say is thank God for the introduction of UK-type smoking laws on January 2, 2011 – and the booting of the nicotine brigade up the proverbial dog-end.''

I (a non-smoker) am counting the days until the smoking ban with eager anticipation. Spain will finally join the rest of the civilized world.

I don't see why anyone has the right to pollute crowded rooms with cancer-causing fumes. Why should other people be forced to put their health at risk just so that you can indulge your addictions?

Bringing up prohibition is a very stupid argument. If someone is drinking alcohol, it's kind of hard for other people to get drunk by breathing in their fumes.

The application of a total ban of smoking does take away the freedom of decision and apply the nanny state control of politicians to the masses, however, the ban will be accepted, have no doubts about that.

It will only take a few stories of fines and police being called to sort out the few rebels who will evidentially try to smoke in their local bar Jan 2nd and nearly everyone will step into line.

Also, i have to (slightly) agree with Malcolm above, the article appears to invite criticism and comment although not a "rag" yet

Schaggi, you made me laugh with your Hitler comparison, i can only assume and hope your anger is temporary and thats not your real opinion as such stupidity is rare these days.

Oh, and do i approve or disapprove of the law??? Lets see what happens.