Is there a proven link between the level of cotinine in the blood and ill-health? Nope. Could the drop in levels of cotinine in the blood have been achieved with less draconian legislation? Yes. So this study, undertaken by the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre (would a Phillip Morris or Imperial Tobacco study have been published?), still does not justify the total ban.

Rob, london,

Forty-five years too late for me, but better late than never.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

Shock report just out!!!!
100% of people born go on to die!!!!
Get used to it!!!!

If people who worked in bars thought that smoking in them should be stopped as it affects their health, the simple answer was: dont work in them.
I dont want to die of radiation poisening, so I dont work in a nuclear power station.

Its called choice. The poor smoker in this country has been turned into a second class citizen by the powers that be, but no one looks at the bigger picture, when we all live forever, where are we all going to live.

The only way the population will be controlled will be to have contrived wars, or the introduction of disease.

Why cant we just be allowed to have our vices, I agree their should be some no smoking pubs, and definately no smoking restaraunts., but why cant I have a fag with a pint?

Pete , St Albans, England

Shame on you for publishing this. I thought the Times, unlike the BBC was not in the employ of propagandists. What on earth does 'near hazardous' mean? Unbelievable....

Larry, Penzance,

I am not a smoker but was surprised to see the last line stating that smoking was for over 18's only.

You can marry at 16, join the army but you are not allowed to smoke !!

Get real smoking was only for over 16's for years and yet school children have always smoked. Changing the law is pointless, the efforts to inform about smoking are doing far more good.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

Dubious, to say the least.
Are they seriously saying that they took blood samples from the people working there?
I would certainly like to see the full report before allowing any credibility at all to this. It smells very strongly of ASH type propaganda, and we have had enough of that already.

Owl, London, England

I'm not surprised. I've seen the same thing reported in other countries that have banned smoking in bars. Bar staff where smoking is still allowed should be demanding that their health be protected. There should be no smoking permitted anywhere that there are non-smokers, especially in workplaces, with no exceptions.

Paul, Noth York,

Maybe they did not eat their vegetables?
No more donations from me for CRUK

mandy v, Cambs, UK

"...staff have four times less cotinine in their blood than they did in June..."

What does that mean? Negative levels? Or have levels been reduced by 75% or 80%?

Charles, Charlottesville,