The UK government has decided not to enforce a complete ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The reason? Nothing to do with public health. It's just that the government thinks a ban would be deeply unpopular and doesn't want to be blamed.

But it's goodbye nanny state, hello nanny in jackboots. Instead, the government is going to allow local authorities to introduce bans. Local government are the folk who ban window-boxes and nativity plays, so imposing a smoking ban should be just a Saturday-afternoon job as far as they are concerned.

Pubs and restaurants are private property. Why should local bureaucrats decide how the owners run them? Some people might prefer smoke-free pubs, others not: why can't we have some of each, as decided by what customers choose? People know the risks from smoking, and probably think the risks from passive smoking are greater than they are: so they don't have to go into a smoky pub if they don't want to. And if people do want to go to a smoky pub, they are fully aware of the risks.

But these bans will soon become universal, unfortunately. Local councillors will want to avoid lawsuits from staff and customers who say they've been 'passive smoked'. And council bureaucrats will take delight in making our lives as miserable as theirs. I don't smoke, but I regret that others are going to lose the right to do so.