Many years ago as an apprentice I smoked, obviously peer pressure worked then as well, but I only kept it up long enough to work out that what I could save from not smoking added to the money I could make by buying a pack of 20 for 32 cents and selling them individually for 10 cents each, would pay for my first car. (yep, it was that long ago)
Being in the Army at the time we would have assemblies in large buildings. The first words from the idiots in charge were always "Light'em if you've got'em" and within 5 minutes the air was so thick with used smoke that visibility was cut down as far as the oxygen levels.
I feel for smokers, yes it's legal, and it's pretty obvious it's all about the Taxation so not much will change in the short to medium term.
A segment on ABC radio a few days ago had a report that smoking had recently increased slightly for the first time over the past 4 years, and that was only after the introduction of plain paper packaging. Go figure, a Government incentive like that not working.
The only problem I have with the whole smoking drama is that smokers cannot prevent the smoke from escaping the smokers area.
Drug users may discard their needles, but they don't generally spray their drugs all over the place annoying non drug users. Although a proper needle exchange program where they trade in the old needles on a one for one basis would stop needle abuse.
Perhaps a cigarette butt exchange could also be adopted. Anyone buying a new pack of durries should have to trade in the equal number of butts to complete the purchase. That would go a long way towards cleaning up the rubbish especially if there was a 5 cent deposit on each butt.
Any how, until they ban cigarettes or until a way is available for a smoker to prevent the smoke from entering anyone else's environment without being treated, I have no problem with severe restrictions, whether they be in buildings, cars, streets, football grounds, caravan parks or anywhere not in a clear smoke dispersing area so no one else is affected.
As I said smokers, I feel for you and respect your right to die of self inflicted cancer, but not as much as I respect my right to breathe non polluted air.
Cheers