[jasonbvr]

Second hand smoke (as in sitting in a smoky restaurant) is just as likely to cause cancer, heart disease and other respiratory problems as actually smoking the cigarrette youself. That is the reason smoking in public places is quickly become a thing of the past across Europe and in the States. Also second hand smoke has been linked to the development of asthma in children. Banning smoking in public places is not for the health of the smoker but rather all the non-smokers and especially children. Protecting its people and their children is the one of the responsibilities of government.