Tobacco suppliers are holding their breath to see how the smoking ban from today will affect their business ? but they are not overly concerned at the moment.

The new law makes it illegal to light up in public places across the Island including bars, restaurants, hotels, offices and schools. Cigarette vending machines are also banned.

Those who break the rules could face a fine of $250 in the first instance and $1,000 fine for each repeat offence. However, there will be a six-month exemption from prosecution for people to get used to the new rules.

A ban on selling cigarettes to under-18s and tobacco advertising at sporting events has been in place since January 1.

Ian Gordon, president of Church Street-based Cuarenta Bucaneros, which supplies Cuban cigars, said: ?I think that the legislation will have some impact on us, but it will not be major. Most of the hotels we supply have outside dining areas and patios, and in many cases already have a no-smoking policy within the building. I think the ban is more likely to affect pubs and clubs where cigarettes are part of the culture.?

He added: ?One positive impact that the ban will have is that smokers will want to dine alfresco. It will also definitely have health benefits and improve the ambience and environment in most pubs and restaurants.?

However, Mr. Gordon expects that some venues will apply to the Ministry of Health for exemption from the ban.

He explained: ?If you go to a restaurant for a power lunch, a lot of people like to have a cigar. One of the joys for our US visitors is enjoying the forbidden fruit ? Cuban cigars.? The smoking ban is part of a global health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which has been signed by 168 countries. The ultimate aim is to get people to quit. However, Mr. Gordon does not think many cigar smokers will ditch the habit as a result of the Bermuda ban. ?Absolutely not. It?s a lifestyle decision. It may help reduce the number of cigarette smokers who do it socially in bars. However, it might just lead to a lot of people smoking on the pavement,? he said.

Charles Pitt, manager of Chatham House, Front Street, which has been selling cigars and pipe tobacco for 100 years, said: ?We are waiting to see whether the ban affects us. It might, but I don?t really think it will be the case that people quit smoking because of it.?

According to information supplied by Senator Raymond Tannock when the Upper House rubber-stamped the ban, five million people across the globe die as a result of smoking each year. Around 17 percent of the population of Bermuda are regular smokers with 28 percent exposed to second-hand smoke.