I quit smoking years ago. Before that, I was always aware of nonsmokers and had this mindset of "non smokers have the last words even if there is one non smokers in a group of 10".
My friend works in a home where she cares for people who are in terminal phases cancers. She says it is flabbergasting the amount of young people who come with lung cancer when they never smoked. While I understand other environmental factors are at stake, as an ex smoker, I cannot IGNORE the omnipresence of smokers everywhere. They smoke at the doors of the coffeeshop, at the entrance of my uni hall, and let's not even talk about the pollution when they throw their cigarettes butts on the ground.
I think as many European countries have free or almost free access to healthcare, it would become crucial to ban cigarettes in every public spaces.
I live in Ireland where they brag about being the first EU country to have a smoking ban, but the amount of places where they don't take it seriously is insane. All the pubs and bars where the smoking area is wide open and you basically can smell the smoke from inside the bar.
I think it's completely unfair on nonsmokers who just wish to socialise and besides dangerous as a state nations that have been so progressive and visionary on people's health and access to healthcare.
Japan and Panama do have public smoking bans by the way.
Disciplined and healthy people shouldn't suffer for other people's bad habits.