Reports on the success of the smoking bans across the world, from countries such as Germany, Ireland, France and Hong Kong, confirm that reactions have been very mixed. Whereas people in Germany are daring enough to flout the law and jump the border to smoke in neighbouring Poland, the Irish and Italians stubbed out with less of a fight.

UK smoking drop
In the UK the result of the smoking ban, introduced in July 2007, was largely positive and there was a record 5.5% decrease in the number of smokers in the first 9 months of the ban's implementation.

"These figures show the largest fall in the number of smokers on record. I never expected such a dramatic impact," said Professor Robert West, director of tobacco studies at the Health Behaviour Research Centre at University College London.

Food or cigarettes?
In Scotland, however, it appears that people need a good incentive to give up smoking and for the hardy Scots, having to stand out on a cold pavement isn't good enough. Smokers in one of the poorest areas of Dundee are being given the chance to have part of their grocery shopping paid for if they can prove that they have not been smoking. The National Health Service in Tayside is running a scheme which will reward people with £12.50 per week, throughout a period of 12 weeks, if they pass a carbon monoxide breath test.

Sandy Watson, chairman of the health board for NHS Tayside was enthusiastic about the new project: "Smoking in Dundee is a difficult problem to tackle but we are hopeful that this innovative approach will encourage smokers to stop smoking for good and therefore make a real difference to their long-term health."

However, the money isn't given away in cash to be spent on cigarettes or tobacco. The money is, wisely, credited to an electronic card which cannot be used to purchase tobacco products.

German smokers in court challenge
Elsewhere in Europe, Germany completed the last phase of its smoking ban implementation on July 1st 2008, meaning that the states of North-Rhine Westphalia and Thuringia no longer permit smoking in public establishments. In a country where nearly one in three adults smoke, the state-governed bans have been met with strong resistance and the new laws are being challenged in courts across the country.

A Dutch style smoking ban
In Holland, the smoking ban was introduced nationwide on July 1st of this year but, in typically Dutch style, it includes exemptions for marijuana smokers. The specially licenced "coffee" shops are permitted to allow their customers to continue to light up joints as long as they don't contain any tobacco, meaning that many establishments will now only permit over-the-counter joints to be smoked on the premises.