Honestly, let the owners of 'public places' (Bars, restaurants, etc) decide on a case by case basis. If they want to allow or prohibit smoking in their establishmet and hurt or help their business, leave it up to them. I smoke, but not at restaurants, rarely in bars and never in mine or someone elses home. I know that some don't like smoke, so I don't do it where I may offend, but this crap about banning it in all indoor (and some outdoor business, like theme parks) is getting seriously stupid. If kids aren't allowed at a bar, who are the nannies protecting?
Us, of course!!! We, the ignorant slack-jawed churls who are too unenlightened to look after ourselves.
I agree with you, but fighting this appears to be pretty much a lost cause. The public in general, and the public health wanks in particular, have now made the health risks of second hand smoke conventional wisdom that you can't argue against, despite the lack of any convincing proof. And with the great majority of the public being non-smokers, well they want what they want, and that's to be able to go to any bar or restaurant of their choosing without having to smell (or come out smelling of) smoke. And they'll support laws to that effect and to heck with the property rights of bar and retaurant owners, or the desires of smokers. I don't like it, but it's just a fact of life today, so get used to it.
Me? I'm giving in and trying to quit - it has just become too unenjoyable socially to smoke anymore. Indoors, at home, is about the only place I can really sit down and relax with a smoke any more.