The soon to be introduced smoking ban in Scotland will generally be widely welcomed.
The majority of the population are not heavy full-time smokers and will therefore be in favour.
I am a part-time smoker who wishes to use the ban to stop.
Historically I have fallen off the wagon when I have been out for a drink and in the company of other smokers - not an uncommon scenario.
In the short-term I would anticipate seeing many disgruntled and moaning customers, but this should be fairly short-lived.
Thereafter I would expect to see even more people huddling outside the doors of pubs and offices throughout Scotland.
Perhaps more people will smoke when they are between places of public day-to-day use, like in their cars or in the street.
In the long-term I would expect to see the nation's health improving, with more people following on from stopping smoking to taking exercise and eating more healthy foods.
The national NHS bill will decrease but taxes will probably still be hiked up somewhere else to cover the shortfall from tax on cigarettes.
I look forward to seeing healthier and happier faces of people who have freed themselves from this evil addiction.
"
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and are not endorsed by the BBC.
We asked for your views on the ban. The following represents the balance of opinion we received.
I am in total agreement with the smoking ban, I gave up smoking over three months ago and must admit I do not enjoy coming home from a night out and having my clothes smell of cigarettes. However, I do not agree that the government have the right to tell people that they cannot smoke in the privacy of their work vehicles, after all it is only themselves they are harming not others.
Jean Ord, Bedford
I gave up smoking two months ago. It is my third attempt and I feel my last. Smoking is now recognised for what it is - a killer. If it takes the intervention of government to slowly and surely restrict it then I am all for it. I don't believe there will be an immediate effect because of the ban but the writing is on the wall.
John MacLeod, Oban
I wish that they had stopped making fags, when they first realised how bad they were for people. Then I most likely wouldn't be a smoker, like my mother. What a scary thought, my son is 13 and do I want him to smoke? No way, so why do I do it? Good question. I asked myself that question nine days ago and this is now day eight of non smoking. Let the ban commence, as this is the best chance I have of stopping (usually give in, when out for a drink). Hopefully it will also stop the next generation from ever starting.
Carol, Alva, Clackmannanshire
I'm a Glasgow University student currently on exchange in California, which has had bans on public smoking for years. Up until 8 weeks ago I had been smoking between 10 and 20-plus cigarettes a day, and started smoking when I was 14. Even as a smoker I preferred the smoke-free bars and clubs in California - no stale lingering smoke smell emanating from your clothes after a nite of clubbing, no searching for cigarette burn holes in your new jacket from an over enthusiastic and oblivious dancer. The fact that the majority of people don't smoke, or smoke very little, made me seriously question why I still kept up the habit. After two weeks back in the UK, and numerous mornings gagging at the smell of my coat from the night before, I quit smoking, and without the temptation of lighting up in a pub on a night out,
I've managed not to smoke for two months, without a great deal of discomfort. Put aside the health arguments (which everyone has heard God knows how many times) and the ban is still the smart move. Whether it spurs you to quit or not, smoke-free public places are more comfortable and enjoyable for the majority of people. And perhaps when you're huddled outside in the freezing Glasgow rain to smoke a swift fag it'll make you realise that smoking isn't for you.
Naomi Rainey, California
I stopped on Friday the 13th of January, it wasn't unlucky for me. I smoked for nearly 40 years, I've tried to stop time and again but kept giving in to the cravings after just a few days. I'm proud of myself, I feel a real sense of achievement.
Richard, Falkirk
I understand what Frazer is saying here, some of my friends are hoping to use the ban to stop smoking as well. However, what seems to be left out here is the people who smoke by choice and have no desire or intention to give up. A person such as myself. I am in complete agreement that non-smokers, children, the elderly, etc, should all have the right to breathe clean air. They should expect no less. I, however, feel a little hard done to that we have gone for a straight outright ban. I cannot see a reason for not having introduced 'smoking rooms' in pubs and nightclubs throughout Scotland first and then letting the individual landlords and owners decide whether their customers as a majority are using them and if not then, fine, make the premises entirely non-smoking.
I think this outright blanket ban is going to cause some serious problems. The police have already said that they plan to leave the enforcement of the ban to owners. The ban will be easily enforceable in high street restaurants and bars, but how do they plan to enforce it in small 'back-street' pubs in villages and towns throughout Scotland? If it's going to be done, then it needs to be done properly and we have heard nothing on how it will actually be policed.
Leanne Gray, Dundee
I smoked for 20 years gave up nearly two years ago. It's the best thing I've ever done and now I can only look at smokers huddled in doorways with pity. What worries me about the ban is the amount of smoking litter we will now see in the street. It's going to become the chewing gum curse of our streets.
Stewart Simpson, Edinburgh
I've been cutting down since new year and finally gave up a week ago, boy the last step is hard but I believe I'm getting there. I think the March ban is good as it brings camaraderie amongst us willing to give up.
Matt Jenkins, Aberdeen
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