Carl Lunt (left) and Garry Collier tried smoking - and got dizzy;

Carl Lunt (left) and Garry Collier tried smoking - and got dizzy; "packet-a-day chick" Barbara Tom predicts uptightness. Picture / Geoff Dale

There comes a time when becoming part of history is more important than health.

So in the performance of a lifetime Garry Collier and Carl Lunt became smokers for a night.

It did not go too well.

"I had to put it out," Mr Collier said.

"It makes you dizzy."

At bars across town were sights to horrify the most righteous Minister of Health, as punters celebrated the last night of legal smoking in pubs.

Malt's owner, Luke Dallow, banned smoking inside the Grey Lynn bar in October.

Last night, however, smoked food was handed out, old tobacco ads had pride of place and Spaceman lolly cigarettes were given away.

A smoke machine was standing by, although the smokers were already pretty much doing its work.

And, just for last night, "smokers" included non-smokers, ex-smokers and the smokers themselves.

Mr Collier waved his cigar with relish.

"I went to the shop and he gave me a great big one. I said 'I can't smoke that - I've never smoked before in my life'. So he gave me a smaller one.

"The reason is it's damned history. If you can't smoke anymore in a pub, I thought I'd better smoke in a pub so I could say I had.

"But this is one of the bravest Government decisions ever made." Behind him his friend, Barbara Tom, glowered, already contemplating a future of nicotine deprivation.

"I only smoke when I have sex, which means I'm a packet-a-day chick. I think you will find a lot of up-tight people. There could be violence, you know."

Mr Lunt had bigger worries.

"My concern is that they will legislate light beer."

Mr Lunt had his own cigar.

"It's kind of like 6 o'clock closing. So now I've participated in it. I've embraced it and I will be telling my children 'I remember I was at a pub the last time you could smoke'.

"And they will say, 'Were you allowed to smoke in pubs, Dad?' And I will say, 'Yeah'."

Across town in Parnell, the old Cuba Cigar Bar had become the new Cuba Cocktail Lounge and Grand Piano Bar.