Friday's National Non-Smoking Day turned out to be a non-event for several for smokers The Royal Gazette caught up with.

One smoker, who did not want to be named, said she had "no idea it was going on", and "was not sure if she would not have smoked if she had known".

The Hamilton office worker who was outside smoking said that she "did not think it would have made a difference."

Another man said he thought it was "a stupid idea because people should have choices. They have choices for everything else, we should have choices if we smoke or not."

"Smoking outside does not affect anybody. It's nobody's business what we do," he said.

"It's hypocritical," another woman said. "Everybody has got bad habits."

Her smoking buddy said that she thought "it was alright as long as there designated smoking areas."

"It's not illegal. (Non-smokers) have this 'holier-than-thou' attitude. Reformed smokers are the worst," another said.

Another woman smoking outside her Hamilton office said she wanted to "look at the figures for deaths from drunk driving and passive smoking".

"Look at alcohol in relation to violence at Malabar and places."

"Let's talk facts, it's not realistic. They want to stop smoking in bars. They can't ban smoking in bars. That's like saying that after 1 a.m. they will shut down the music."

Buckaroo Too proprietor David Cauchi asked wondered why there wasn't a national non-drinking day.

Mr. Cauchi said his customers are allowed to smoke in his restaurant but "if they change the law then I will have to abide by it."

One of the Buckaroo's customers said she "stopped smoking for three years after a non-smoking day. For some people it works," she said.

On Friday in the House of Assembly, Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley said: "We need to do something more progressive with Bermuda about banning smoking."

He gave the example of Ireland and New York.

"Second- and first-hand smoke are killing people," he said, and "banning smoking is a challenge to this Government."