A year's notice will allow for outdoor smoking areas to be prepared

Health Minister Peter Roffey says public opinion supports the move but he will not be gloating over its success.

"I do understand the predicament of smokers and I have a certain sympathy with smokers whose lifestyles are going to be interfered with," he said.

Deputy Duncan Staples argued it would be better for a smoke-free island to evolve, instead of using legislation.

Three times as many are being harmed by passive smoking than all other industrial accidents and illnesses put together Health Minister Peter Roffey

Deputy Staples, who voted against the proposals on Wednesday, thinks the law is not flexible enough to deal with the range of licensed premises on Guernsey.

"In introducing a blanket ban you actually create an 'un-level playing field' because there are some establishments on the island that are currently geared up to take alfresco dining or alfresco smokers and there are some establishments on the island that will not ever hope to be able to cater for smokers outside," he said.

But Mr Roffey said there were compelling reasons why the ban was justified.

"I'm not a puritanical person, neither in my own lifestyle nor what I expect of other people, and I'm usually a 'freedom of choice' person," he said.

"But in this particular instance we had to look at their (smokers) rights against the rights of other islanders and take into account that probably three times as many are being harmed by passive smoking than all other industrial accidents and illnesses put together."