THE Government?s ban on smoking in pubs could prove to be ?a dagger in the heart? of rural communities, according to West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox, writes Michael Daddow. The recent Commons vote to ban smoking in pubs, clubs and bars throughout England has also met with a mixed response from West Devon landlords. Mr Cox voted against a total ban in the debate on February 14. He said he would have rather seen ?serious attempts to find an alternative to a total ban?. Mr Cox warned the financial strain that could be placed upon pubs when the law comes into effect next summer was so great, that some traditional country pubs could be forced to close. He said if a village was to lose its pub it would be ?like a dagger in the heart? of that community. Mr Cox said he had received letters from worried and anxious landlords before the vote had been cast. The Times spoke to a number of landlords in the area about what impact they believed the ban would have on their trade. The majority of pub owners predicted an initial loss, with one landlord, who did not wish to be named, stating his belief that ?a fag and a pint go together?. But not all pub owners in West Devon are completely against the ban. One landlady of a food-led pub said their premises had already installed a no-smoking policy which customers had had to get used to, and she believed that the introduction of a ban across the country was ?a good idea?.