A COUNCIL may encourage pubs, clubs and restaurants to ban smoking.
Durham City Council's cabinet will consider a report on stubbing out cigarettes in enclosed public spaces.
Although it has no powers to order a ban, it could try to influence businesses in the district to follow its lead - its premises are no smoking.
Grenville Holland, deputy leader of the council, said: "The dangers of smoking are well established.
"Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and death in the United Kingdom.''
He added that passive smoking killed 12,000 non-smokers in Britain every year.
Councillor Holland said a ban introduced in California seven years ago had led to smoking falling from 25 to ten per cent.
"I hear the argument, 'Oh! If you stop people smoking in my restaurant or bar business will fall off.'
"There is no evidence whatever to support that observation.''
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