I write in response to your headline "Smokers face ban in public" (The Argus, July 22).

Despite being a non-smoker, who hates having to breathe in second-hand smoke, I am against a total ban on smoking in public.

Smokers do not have a right to smoke. Rather, non-smokers have more of a right to clean air.

However, a total ban is not workable and would not be supported by most people.

Indeed many smokers wish to give up and need incentives to help them to do so, not sticks to beat them with.

My solution would be to ban smoking in all places where children are present.

That could be enforced by parental pressure.

All public places should provide at least a third of their space, physically separated, for non-smokers.

Only where this is not possible should a total smoking ban be put in place.

Staff in establishments where smoking is allowed should have the right to sue employers for endangering their health.

We're not ready for a total ban, as has just been enforced in Norway, but the rights of non-smokers have been ignored for too long.

-Nick Hearn, Brighton