TO smoke or not to smoke, that is the question! I support both.

I feel that the new law will not be treated with a lot of respect. What an onerous job to administer.

We have already some laws that are taken with disrespect, for instance, litter, cycling on pavements, dog fouling. I haven't heard or seen any publicity of people being prosecuted for the above offences.

Although I remember a case of a man prosecuted for stubbing out a cigarette end and was fined £50, but this didn't stop litter louts.

I am a non-smoker. Thirty years ago I had an after dinner cigar, oh dear, it spoiled my meal. Many years ago as a young lad I used to collect fag ends for my father and keep the best ones to smoke in a clay pipe that the lads of my generation used to do, and make me sick.

To the objectors of smoking: a question; do you turn off your car engine when waiting at traffic lights or in a traffic hold up? Exhaust fumes are objectionable. Do you ever use a mobile telephone while driving?

To the smokers: Do you stub out your cigarette ends on the pavement, in the gutter? Do you make sure that your cigarette is firmly out when you discard it? Fires are started by lighted cigarettes.

I don't mind smoking in my presence, providing they don't blow their smoke in my face. Most pubs, clubs and eating places have a non-smoking area. If this is not enough then enlarge them.

This non-smoking law in enclosed space is, as Mr Bumble would say "is an ass'', selfish and an imposition. Whatever next?

I have had a nicotine habit for more than 50 years. I take snuff. If you want to give up the smoking habit, try taking snuff. Snuff is finely ground tobacco and made into many different flavours like lavender, wallflower, some medicated with menthol, also there is plain snuff. It may take some time experimenting to find the one you like and several sneezes. The accoutrements, but not necessary as you can buy snuff in tins, but a snuff box and maybe a colourful handkerchief make snuff taking an elegant show.

A word of warmingm however, snuff gets up your nose. One thing it doesn't do is to set anything alight. Try it at the W White's tobacco shop in London Road.

Atishoo, a tissue, atishoo.

W R SHAIL, Totton.