Given the free choice, some people will drink, eat, smoke and otherwise drug themselves into oblivion. We can't solve this issue by simply banning the problemat

Given the free choice, some people will drink, eat, smoke and otherwise drug themselves into oblivion. We can't solve this issue by simply banning the problematic substances, prohibition and other bans have shown this. Consumption taxes are also implemented in many countries, but these have issues as well. Namely in regards to lobbying and how the taxes are chosen, and how they disproportionately affect low-income segments. Personally I am torn on this subject. I highly appreciate the public smoking ban that has been implemented in restaurants, bars and other public venues, as well as on public transit and related facilities. I do respect smoking as a personal choice, just as I expect teetotalers to respect that I enjoy the consumption of alcohol, or vegetarians/vegans to respect that I enjoy consuming foods with meat in them. All of these have proven generally negative health effects, but I choose to partake in some of them, as an informed choice. I also recognize that all of these activities have some negative effect on the world and society, in one way or another, yet it would be counterproductive to ban them outright. What I don't like about smoking in particular is the stench and effects of passive smoking, and especially not being able to escape it. At least the public smoking ban did alleviate this, which certainly can be spun as a net societal gain.