To the original poster, the sooner they ban smoking in public places the better, end of story. I feel that your reference to "alcohol abuse" is a little contrived.....someone else being drunk in the bar does not pose a direct health risk to anyone else in the bar, whereas passive smoking does. Fair enough, people who do drink to excess cause different problems but rarely anything that cant be sorted out by removing said individual to his/her room.
I dont think it is unnecessary govt intervention, in fact I think it is one of their more sensible social policies, smoking is anti social for the vast majority, particularly in the services who dont partake. Whilst currently living somewhere where smoking is banned in public places, it makes for a much more pleasant evening not being in a smokey bar and waking up to find that your clothes dont stink of someone elses fags.....rant over
DS