[JURIST] The British Department of Health [official web site] Monday began an 11-week program [official site] to survey the public on a proposed smoking ban [BBC backgrounder] that would prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars that serve food, and enclosed public places in England. The DoH is asking citizens what exemptions they think should apply, and if the ban should eventually include more areas. The proposal has gotten complaints from both sides; those for it say the exemptions will make the ban ineffective, and those against it say it's unnecessary. In the US, state and local governments are responsible for most of the anti-smoking laws [Wikipedia profile, JURIST news archive], creating a wide variety of places where people can and cannot smoke. BBC News has more.