About 32% of people in Plymouth smoke

It follows a decision by a restaurateur in Plymouth to call it quits for smokers at his new venue.

Health professionals in the city have called for others to follow suit.

They are determined to cut what they believe are the effects of the passive smoking, but some landlords have said it would badly affect businesses.

If you try and bring it into a social situation people will just leave the pubs Chris Colmer, landlady

About 12,000 people are believed to die every year in Britain through passive smoking.

Sarah Wyatt of the Plymouth Smoking Action Advice group said: "Smoking is dangerous. I don't think people up to now have actually realised the impact smoking has on other people's health.

"It's not just a nuisance, it's not just a bad smell, it's poisoning people and it's killing people."

About 32% of people in Plymouth smoke. But one place they will not be able to indulge their habit is the Zuccai restaurant on Plymouth's waterfront.

Six months after it opened, owner Edmond Davari decided he needed to clear the air with his customers - and he says business is booming because of it.

A bill to ban smoking in restaurants is to get a second reading

He said: "I was having a meal myself at the restaurant a few weeks ago and there were people both sides smoking.

"I could not see my food clearly, I could not smell it, and I realised what my customers have been saying for a long time, which was ban smoking in the restaurant."

However, when it comes to a ban in pubs, landlords and landladies have a different view.

Chris Colmer, landlady of The Elburton said: "I think it's good to have areas in all walks of life where there is no smoking.

"But I think if you try and bring it into a social situation, people will just leave the pubs."

Howard Edge of the Colebrook Inn said: "If you can't have a cigarette in the pub because it's a risk, then it follows you can't have a drink in a pub because it's a risk - so there's no need for pubs."

In Westminster, moves are afoot to ban smoking in restaurants. A Private Member's Bill to that effect from Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas is due for a second reading in July.