"I mean, it's a bar, for God's sake! You go to a bar, you drink, you smoke, you have a good time! Isn't that right?" The tip of Hannah's cigar glowed hot red, and when she exhaled the blue-grey smoke mingled with the white of her breath in the cold outside air.

"Not everyone" Sacha said. "Some people just go out to drink. Or hang out with their friends. Some people don't want to come out stinking of other people's smoke."

"Yeah, but to drink, right? So what's the difference? Nicotine's a drug. So's alcohol. What's the difference? Next they're gonna make us drink outside!"

"Yeah, but they affect other people. Other people have to breathe in your smoke. Alcohol's not the same."

"I guess you've never had a drunk girl throw up on your shoes then."

"It's hardly the same thing. Anyway, I don't see how it'll make that much of a difference: eventually the outside of a bar will probably become the cool place to be 'cause that's where everyone is, all puffing away. You're complaining about it now, but a year from now you'll hardly notice."

"You're underestimating how long I can hold a grudge" Hannah said.

"You're talking yourself up" Sacha teased her.

"But it's my right! I mean we're living in a democracy, aren't we?"

"So vote the other way next time! A democracy isn't a free-for-all. You've still gotta do some stuff you don't like."

"It's discrimination!"

"It's public health! I don't wanna be coming down with lung cancer in forty years time."

"You're exaggerating."

"Only for effect. The point remains. What about the people who work in the bars? They really are at risk from passive smoke."

"Who says they have to work in bars?"

"Who says they can find work elsewhere?"

Hannah shivered. "Why are you out here, anyway? You don't smoke."

"I'm keeping you company" Sacha replied, as if it was obvious.

Hannah stubbed out the remainder of her cigar. "I'm freezing" she said. "Let's go back inside."