Smokers who are not relishing the introduction of wide-ranging new laws next year which will even further curtail their habit will probably not take as welcome reading a new booklet which outlines just how deeply the legislation will bite.

We should all now be getting used to the idea that smoking in restaurants, pubs and enclosed public spaces is very soon going to be a thing of the past.

For too long non-smokers have had to put up with the discomfort of having cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke blown in their direction.

Apart from the hardcore of smoking rebels who feel their human rights are being trampled on, there can be few people who now believe that it is right that the tobacco lobby should be given free reign to indulge their habit in the company of others who wish to have no part of the health risks that go hand in hand with being a habitual smoker.

What might surprise smokers is just how far the new regulations will actually go.

The legislation will cover all public spaces deemed to be enclosed, and this will affect everything from public telephone boxes to bus shelters to pub gardens that are covered or house a gazebo.

The countdown is now on towards making Britain's public areas completely smoke-free.

Those who still indulge in their cigarette fix probably do not like it, but they might as well start getting used to it.