What part of a round red sign with a cigarette inside the circle with a big line across it do these people not understand?
Well, you'll see it plastered over every available space in the UK, because that's the kind of country we are - we love telling people what they cannot do! People from other countries are not so familiar with them, and do not notice them as we do.
There's no excuse in this day and age, (even Aeroflot banned on-board smoking 15 years ago), and I'm not disagreeing with you, just putting another point of view.