I don't like to say 'told you so'... yes, I do.

Scotland banned smoking everywhere in March this year. Even at bus stops.

Now, pub takings are down ten percent.

Dear me, isn't that awful?

That's during the Scottish summer, too, when it's actually pleasant to go outside for a smoke. They still have to go through their first Scottish winter of banned-indoor-smoking. A quick trip outside in a blizzard with a wind chill of -20 degC might have a little more of an effect on sales, methinks.

And this ban comes south to England next year. Once more, it will come into force during pleasant weather, when smokers will be mostly happy to stand out in the sunshine. Pundits consider that there will be less of an effect on sales south of the border, because 'English drinker/smokers will have a longer period of pleasant weather'.

It's not that far south. We're talking about an island which is about 1000 miles top to bottom, and Scotland makes up about 400 miles of that. It's not quite as much of a difference in climate as, say, New York and Florida.

Anyone who thinks England has balmy winters should get out more.

Next year, the smokers will have to.