I FEEL I must respond to Tony Fitzgerald's tirade (Letters, November 5) against the modern-day constrictions on smokers and smoking. Apart from lambasting all and sundry, his stance seemed rather one-sided and missed alarming fundamentals about this filthy habit.

Smoking results in extremely bad health, resulting in thousands of deaths every year. Surely by banning smoking in public places, everyone will benefit from the cleaner air.

However, Mr Fitzgerald seems to think this measure would jeopardise conversation and social interaction. Banning it in pubs would certainly not hinder my "social interaction". Clearly, Mr Fitzgerald must puff away on 60-a-day if this is his view.

What is more incredible is that he seems to think that non-smokers share his view, yet most smokers I talk to yearn to give up.

A blanket ban would not seriously dent the profits of the licensing trade, apart from some of the more old-fashioned pubs which wouldnt be missed.

What Mr Fitzgerald seems to ignore is culture change. Smoking is an addiction which causes discomfort, pollutes the atmosphere, and spoils the enjoyment of non-smokers.

Mr Fitzgerald thinks this totalitarian measure on smoking will somehow turn us into a nanny health state, in which alcohol-free pubs will reign, and junk food outlets will close. Junk food, while unhealthy if eaten in excess, does not pollute the atmosphere. I am not breathing in someone else's smoke when I eat a Big Mac!

Anything that makes the environment safer and cleaner gets my backing.

PAUL THOMAS