The British government plans to impose a sweeping public smoking ban across England and Wales.
"All government departments will be smoke-free," Health Secretary Mr John Reid told the House of Commons as he unveiled a 200-page White Paper.
"All enclosed public places and workplaces . . . will be smoke free. All restaurants will be smoke free. All pubs and bars preparing and serving food will be smoke free."
The ban differs from Ireland's ban, however, in that some bars, which do not serve food, will be free to choose whether to allow smoking, as will private clubs.
Shares in pub groups and tobacco firms tumbled even before the official announcement.
Britain's biggest pubs operator Enterprise Inns was hardest hit. Its shares lost 3.8 per cent on fears the proposals will cost the company trade.
Shares in tobacco firms Gallaher and Imperial Tobacco fell 2 per cent, while those of pubs operators Mitchells & Butler, Punch Taverns and Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries slid over 3 per cent.
There is no set time for a ban. A White Paper denotes firm plans to legislate but with an election expected next year, turning them into law could last well into 2006 and beyond.
Last week, the Scottish parliament decided to introduce a ban on smoking in public buildings from 2006. Further restrictions on tobacco advertising will be introduced along with graphic picture warnings on cigarette packets.
Tackling smoking forms only part of the 200-page White Paper, which follows months of speculation and consultation by ministers.
Dr Reid also said action was needed to tackle the nation's increasing obesity crisis.
He said the food industry and retailers, along with the Food Standards Agency, would develop a "simple code for processed food to indicate fat, sugar and salt content for shoppers".
This could mean the further introduction of a "traffic lights" system that would see red indicate foods high in salt, fat and sugar and green for fruit and vegetables.
Agencies