On July 1, England banned smoking in all public buildings, including restaurants and pubs, joining the rest of the United Kingdom in banning smoking (Wales and Northern Ireland instituted bans in April, Scotland last year).

Other European countries have instituted similar bans: Ireland was the first in 2004. Sweden, Italy, Malta, Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, and Portugal have smoking bans (full or partial).

In the next two years the following European countries will institute smoking bans: France, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland. (From the International Herald Tribune.)

We have noticed smoking in restaurants here in Switzerland.

Smokers at restaurant in Leysin, Switzerland