Looking for love? Try smirting

As the smoking ban officially took effect in England on Sunday July 1st and while it has left many people wondering if and indeed how they should quit the habit, there are some who may be glad of the chance to light up outside of pubs, restaurants, and their place of work.

That's because of a new type of dating that developed in the US and Ireland after smoking bans were implemented in those countries in 2004 - smirting.

According to the Daily Mail, smirters flirt with fellow smokers after meeting them on streets as they are forced outside to light up. These folk are able to swap lighters, smoke, chat and then smirt.

One smoker who ahs benefited from smirting is Ella, a stylist from Dublin. She told the paper: "I was going to stop smoking when the ban came in, but giving up was harder than I thought. But after a bit I realised I didn't want to stop, because for a large part of the evening, half of the sexiest men would be standing outside to smoke anyway. I have dated three guys that I smirted with, and one of them is now my current boyfriend."