Peter Lavac's letters headlined 'Time to boot out smoking' and 'Reply to attack from smokers' (South China Morning Post, May 15 and 18) on the Government's proposed smoking ban in public places and the dangers of smoking in general are spot on. Like many, I fully support the right of any adult who wishes to smoke - it's their health and their (hopefully informed) decision. What is totally unacceptable is how the vast majority (80 per cent) of us who do not smoke are expected to put up with meals in restaurants completely ruined by smoke. A legally enforceable ban is therefore the only answer to this awful problem. The arguments against anti-smoking legislation and in favour of some kind of voluntary system are laughable. I recently took my family to Nomads Restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. I asked for a non-smoking table and was told: 'We are not doing non-smoking tonight.' A rather odd response in itself, but hungry children precluded further discussion or taking our business elsewhere. We counted 46 diners in this restaurant during its busiest period. There were just two smokers, who happened to be dining together, totally oblivious to the discomfort they were causing. Now what is wrong with this picture? Nomads is lucky enough to have a reasonably separate area which could be used for those wishing to end their lives earlier, but they choose not to use it. I wrote to the restaurant's management but didn't even receive the courtesy of a reply. This speaks volumes for an industry which cares nothing for the health of its employees or customers. JONATHAN CONWAY Sai Kung