Madam, - I did not write ( January 5th) that smoking is always banned in all pubs in Australia, as suggested by Harry Davies (January 7th). The position is complex because legislation varies from state to state, but smoking is generally illegal wherever food is served and in all cases pubs must provide an adequate non-smoking area.
My main point remains true: people do comply with anti-smoking legislation and customers themselves see to it that it is enforced without the involvement of the staff.
None of my Australian relatives or friends has ever seen anyone smoking in a restaurant since the laws came into force some years ago. - Yours, etc.,
LADY KILBRACKEN, Killegar, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim.