The UK Goes Smoke Free Next Month; Will Portable Ashtrays Fly?

I never thought Italy would ban smoking in restaurants, but it did.  Then I figured most Italians would flaunt the rules.  However, a recent stay in Rome and the Amalfi Coast proved me wrong, I'm happy to say--Italian diners are doing their smoking outside only.

Now, on July 1, smoking in English pubs, restaurants, stores, and workplaces will be banned.  In fact, the only indoor place where people in the United Kingdom will be able to smoke will be their homes and cars.  Given that 25 per cent of Britons smoke, the new ban will have a big impact. 

Footnote: Most central downtown London streets don't have trash cans--part of an effort to eliminate places for terrorist to stash explosives--so anti-smoking advertisements will urge smokers to carry portable ashtrays to minimize cigarette butts on streets.  It'll be interesting to see how well that idea goes over.