Second-hand smoke could have fatal consequences for non smokers, warned anti-smoking activist Charles Jeffers yesterday.

But with a formidable coalition now waging war against public smoking, non smokers should eventually breathe a little easier.

Speaking to a lunchtime audience of members of the Hamilton Rotary Club, Mr. Jeffers outlined the dangers of second-hand smoke and said that some progress was being made in banning smoking from public spaces.

"There is no solid argument that I could advance against adults' rights to smoke" he said.

"There is, however, the very real challenge of second-hand smoke. I take the position that the rights of smokers stops where the rights of non-smokers start. Unfortunately smoke does not know where that invisible line is and so there is an invasion."

He cited statistics and reports which linked second-hand smoke to cancer deaths in non smokers and showed that non smokers in contact with second-hand smoke were at increased likelihood of having lung cancer.

And he said studies had also shown that children of smoking households were equally affected regardless of whether smoking was permitted inside the home or just outside.

"In all of this children are the helpless victims. It is always good to hear that a large percentage of ladies who smoke quit before or during their pregnancy," he continued.

"Unfortunately, many new mothers resume smoking after their babies are born. Going outside to smoke seems to be a good alternative but the truth is that smoke particles go into the home in the clothes and on the skin. Holding a baby close forces the child to breathe in whatever is in the air."

Mr. Jeffers is a founding member of the group Bermuda Advocates for Non Smoking (BANS) which has been leading a campaign to ban smoking in public places.

He reported that to date about 20 restaurants have become smoke free, or were already smoke free, since the group started its campaign two years ago.

BANS has played a co-ordinating role in the anti-smoking campaign, he explained.

And he said he was confident that Government will bring anti-smoking legislation to the House.