In 1993 California banned smoking within five feet - now 18 feet - of any public building, office and beach.

Smoking was outlawed in most public places and offices in Australia since 1998.

In March 2003, a state-wide smoking ban in New York led to groups smokers smoking outside of bars and pubs and the formation of a group called Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment (Clash).

The Republic of Ireland banned smoking in pubs on March 29, 2004.

By January 2005, Italy followed the example of Sweden, Norway the Netherlands and Montenegro and imposed a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places.

More than 58,000 smokers in Scotland are attempting to quit ahead of a ban in smoking in public places in Scotland from March 26, 2006, the BBC reported on Sunday.

And the Kenyan government is drafting a bill to outlaw smoking, the BBC said, however, the sale of tobacco products has been completely banned throughout the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.