By SAMANTHA PASHLEY

DUBLIN'S public places have been smoke-free since March 29, after the Republic of Ireland Government decided it was the best solution to health problems relating to smoking.

Norway became the second country after Ireland to impose a ban on smoking in enclosed public places, forcing bar hoppers and restaurant customers to stub out their cigarettes.

American states, including Maine, Florida and California, have similar smoking bans, as do cities including New York and Boston.

Many countries around the world have laws that ban smoking in public transport systems and workplaces, but most bars and restaurants still have a designated smoking area.

So with the Government deciding about whether Liverpool should become the next in a long chain of anti-smoking cities, should we here in Warrington consider it too?

When you go out with your friends, are you sick of being stuck in a cloud of smoke all night with nowhere to escape?

Also, you have to consider how your health is being put at risk because you inhale passive smoke.

The British Medical Association has conservatively estimated that second hand smoke causes at least 1,000 deaths a year in the UK, while exposure at work leads to approximately 700 deaths.

It is also unfair that colleagues at work may get more breaks from you as a result of them smoking and you not, so how is it reasonable that you could be made to work more as a result of you being a non smoker?

A quick lecture in assembly is not going to overpower the immense peer pressure surrounding many young people in the Warrington area.

Plus active role models being seen with fags in their mouths and the media representation of smoking still being considered as 'cool' and 'social' does not help teens to say no to smoking. However, if smoking was banned, would that not force many to kick the habit and promote smoking as a negative anti-social thing?

People may believe that the Government has no place inserting itself into businesses, and with police resources already stretched, enforcing such a rule would arguably only waste police time and cause public outrage.

But other countries have shown that it can work and can make public spaces a safer place to be.

So hopefully by following in their footsteps we can make Warrington a smoke free town.