As a new ex-smoker, I welcome a ban on smoking in restaurants and pubs where food is served.

Even when I smoked 30 a day, I found it disgusting people couldn't last an hour in a restaurant without inflicting their habit on other people.

Thank goodness having to put up with cigarette smoke while trying to enjoy a good meal is something which will soon be consigned to history, like smoking on buses, trains and planes.

It would be great if restaurant owners pre-empted the new law by banning smoking now.

Since stopping smoking, I've saved about £250. I recommend giving up - it is difficult but not impossible.

-Steve John, Hove