The idea
Take the number of on-premises licences in the UK. Take some fraction of that number. Then auction off smoking licenses to the highest bidder. This way, non-smokers and smokers are both guaranteed to have places they can go, and there is a new revenue source for the government.
Why is it important?
Pubs are closing every day. This will allow some of those pubs to survive, while at the same time ensuring non-smokers can drink in comfort.