&gt; I think that a lot of the heavy-handed anti-smoking measures are based on neo-puritanism about &quot;toxins&quot; and bodily purity and not on actual health facts.<p>In terms of individual, probably.<p>However, the smoking bans were &quot;nominally&quot; put in place to protect the people working in places like bars, restaurants, etc.<p>It was something that &quot;the market&quot; was never going to correct.  People who smoke are simply <i>WAY</i> more profitable to restaurants and bars.