Smokers defy ban

Some smokers are continuing to light up in public despite the ban that took effect at 6am this morning.

Tony Blows, landlord of The Dog Inn in Ewys Harold, near Hereford, is a member of the pro-smoking campaign group Freedom2Choose and said he is prepared to go to court as he joined regulars for a cigarette.

"My wife and I work 200 hours a week in this pub," he said. "It's private property and there's no way they can stop us doing it. As long as we abide by licensing laws we are not doing anything wrong.

"It's been brought in on the back of a pack of lies. This lie about passive smoking, it's a perfect lie. There's no proof whatsoever that second-hand smoking kills."

Freedom2Choose estimates as many as 3,000 of its members, including licensees and social club owners, could refuse to quit their habit in enclosed public spaces.

The group launched a legal challenge on human rights grounds at the High Court last week in a bid to "fight against injustice and erosion of freedom and personal liberties".

Campaigners claimed the ban would breach their human rights because it involves a "restriction on the peaceful enjoyment of possessions".

They also claimed it would breach the right to privacy of people who visit pubs and social clubs to have a smoke.

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