From the 14th of February drinkers at the Staveley arms can’t light up with their drink. Mike Dry and Elaine Little thought Valentine’s Day would be the ideal time to ban smoking in their pub, not realising their action would co-incide with a parliamentary debate on the issue.

They say it makes sense to get used to a smoke free pub now rather than wait for the law to change. Mike and Elaine believe that far from losing trade, a smokeless pub will encourage more people to use their restaurant.

And as both of them are smokers themselves they’ll be sharing the sacrifice, and hoping the ban will give them the encouragement they need to kick the habit.

But what do you think? Should pubs and clubs be exempt from the ban? Should there be a ban at all?

Should all clubs and bars in Malaysia be smoke free?

What about eating places and mamaks?

The BBC went into York city centre one lunchtime to find out what people thought.

“Certainly ban in restaurants, but not pubs because people go there to drink and smoke.”
Mr Faulkner

“It’s too easy at the moment, you can smoke anywhere.”
Steve Jones

“It [smoking] is just very unsociable, I think.”
Mr & Mrs Bailey

“I think it’s great actually; it’s a good idea.”
Mari Samperio

Source: BBC Lifestyle