Anti-smoking activist Charles Jeffers has called for smoking to be banned near doorways.

He says Bermuda should copy overseas examples such as California which in 2004 banned lighting up within 20 feet of a main entrance, exit, and operable window of all public buildings.

His comments come as Health Minister Patrice Minors ruled out any exemptions to allow smoking in some bars, restaurants and offices under legislation that comes into effect on Sunday.

Mr. Jeffers said there was a need for even tougher legislation to stop non-smokers suffering from second-hand smoking.

Mr. Jeffers, who is spokesman for Bermuda Advocates for Non-Smoking, but said he was speaking in a personal capacity, added: ?People congregate right outside a building so when you are walking in you have to run a gauntlet of smoking.

?If you want to smoke you should step away from the building.?

He said Canada was looking at amending legislation to ban smoking within 15 feet of a doorway although he was open to reducing the distance of the exclusion zone. His stance received support from Opposition deputy leader Michael Dunkley.

He said: ?It doesn?t do anything for your business.?

Smokers lurking outside offices in Par-La-Ville Road took the latest bid to curb their activities in their stride.

Mike Morrison, a partner with KPMG, said: ?I want to give up so it?s probably a good thing, they should probably ban it completely.

Asked if he felt hounded by anti-smoking laws he said: ?Yes, that?s why I want to give up.?