I say this from the point of view of a smoker, but one who chooses to smoke away from others because I know how unpleasant it can be.
I cannot believe the level of vitriol and plain rudeness from some of the contributors to this thread. It is always the way.....people make comments anonymously that they would not consider making when face to face; which generally means the debate descends into a thoroughly unpleasant spectacle fuelled by the anonymity allowed via the internet.
Now that I have said that I will make my point regarding this thread....
FMC_Apprentice may have been right to elicit the views of his/her professional peers via this website because, as Danny's welcome intro states, professional pilots (or indeed any professionals whose job entails a great deal of travel) do not have the outlet that a typical office bound worker may have i.e. discussion with colleagues sat at the next desk. I do not believe, however, that he/she had the right to bring to the discussion the name of his/her company. This action inevitably leads to a poor impression of the company and, by association, his/her colleagues. (I do not work for the company in question incidentally).
In another scenario, similar evidence of lack of judgment could actually be more damaging for an individual's career than any perceived threat by directly confronting the individuals concerned or by whistle blowing through the appropriate channels. If a individual feels they are unable to address their legitimate health concerns directly then perhaps they should reconsider their chosen career path; similarly if the same individual is also unable to use an established anonymous reporting scheme, then again they should perhaps reconsider their options.
Now to the specific subject of smoking which seems to have caused the most ire.....
As I said at the beginning, I smoke though I chose to smoke away from others if they find it unpleasant. If I ask someone if they mind if I smoke and they say "Yes" then I do not; if they say "No" then I do, simple as that. If someone does not have the gumption to answer a straightforward question truthfully then I will not concern myself to check back regularly every few minutes to ensure their continued abeyance.
Smoking in public places is an entirely different matter....did you notice the word PUBLIC. To the best of my knowledge I still possess some free will in the determination of my particular path through life. Therefore I chose to smoke, which is my right. If you are in a public place (bar, restaurant etc) which allows smoking, you cannot in all sincerity expect all around to accommodate your view on this subject and demand a totally smoke free environment. It is your right to either stay put/move away/leave the establishment entirely; nobody is forcing you to eat in a particular restaurant or drink in a certain bar.
Smoking (as yet) is not against the law and therefore the analogy with the Class A drug is pretty specious; the societal problems which are caused by such substances do in no way shape or form compare to the legal use of tobacco products in this country.