The smoking ban has worked, or so the prime minister, a former (?) smoker, keeps telling us.
So he will be heartened by a report in the Oxford Mail that reveals that "Not one person has been fined in Oxford for flouting the ban on smoking in pubs in almost five years since it came into force."
The implication is that the smoking ban has been a huge success and I expect there will be more stories like this as we approach the fifth anniversary of the ban in England on July 1.
I spoke at length when asked to comment but, inevitably, my response has been reduced to a soundbite. As a result the report ignores the damage the ban has done to thousands of pubs or the fact that many landlords would welcome an amendment to the ban.
After speaking at a seminar organised by the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association (FLVA) ten days ago I know there is support for a change in the law. Unfortunately many of the licensees who want change are independents and they lack a strong national voice.
What they really need is the support of a major player like the British Beer and Pub Association but the BBPA isn't interested.
After I spoke at the FLVA seminar I was approached by two senior BBPA figures. They were friendly enough - considering I had criticised the BBPA during my speech - but nothing they said encouraged me to believe that they will change their tune any time soon and certainly not while their current chief executive, health conscious Brigid Simmonds, remains in charge.
Meanwhile the prime minister sticks his head in the sand and insists that the smoking ban "has worked".
Yeah, and I'm the Queen of Sheba.
See: No-one fined for smoking in pubs (Oxford Mail)