Smoker-friendly cities

GM writes: I've just returned from a trip to Vienna, which is one of the most smoker-friendly places I've seen for many years. At a time when people are starting to talk about 'smoker-friendly holiday destinations', this seems ideal. The airport has frequent, strategically-placed 'smokers' corners', unlike UK airports where the first sign you see on arrival is 'no smoking', then 'no smoking until after baggage check'.

By contrast, Vienna recognises people's needs and provides smoking areas where they are required. Bars and cafes within the airport are also mostly smoking-permitted. In town, all the bars and restaurants allow smoking and indeed most of the people there seem to smoke. The 'Tabac' shops are numerous and cigarettes are far cheaper than in Britain (no surprise there).

Smoking is allowed in shopping malls and on the platforms in overground stations (though not on board the trains). The underground stations are non-smoking, but smoking is permitted until a short distance before the barrier, where large stubbing-out trays are provided (which means one can finish a cigarette without having to stand outside in the rain).

The bars and restaurants - and indeed everywhere else - are kept clean and the atmosphere is not full of smoke. Everyone seems calm, relaxed and happy with the arrangement. Why can't it work that way in England?