[babypuncher]

I think the difference is that there is something to be gained in exchange for the risk posed by cosmic rays during air travel, so people are more interested in taking a nuanced approach to it. Meanwhile second hand smoke is a nuisance at best and a legitimate health concern at worse. Most people (myself included) are happy to ban smoking on airplanes or in restaurants even if the health benefits are negligible at best.

I do agree though, studies like this should always include useful context rather than just making absolutist statements. Perhaps alcohol and tobacco smoke need something similar to the banana equivalent dose used when talking about radiation exposure.

[dleslie]

> Nobody gains anything from an activity that fundamentally requires exposure to tobacco smoke.

Except smokers, of course.

Smoking isn't just addictive and deadly, like alcohol, it has its own appeal to users.

[thrashh]

We’re not talking smoking though

We’re talking second hand smoke

Who exactly is looking to get some second hand smoke in their face while avoiding actually smoking?

[jimmaswell]

I seem to be in a small minority, but I always liked the smell of second hand smoke despite never smoking. I've smelled some cigarettes up close and I think I'd really like them, but I don't want to start for health reasons.

[GekkePrutser]

Me too. I liked the smell. And the bars used to be less 'clear' due to the smoke. They had more atmosphere.

I did hate the way my clothes smelled afterwards but anyway that's what a washing machine is for.

[sneak]

The difference is that you consent to someone else's drugs entering your body.

[shard]

I don't go in for cigarette smoke, but cigars, oh my.

[idontwantthis]

Secondhand smoke is the cost of being in a bar outside of the US. Good luck making friends with European expats without some secondhand smoke.

[afcapel]

In general European countries have bans on smoking in public places much stricter than the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_bans#Smoking_b...

[meowface]

I don't know what the laws are, but the amount of smoking centimeters away from the entrances of buildings in Europe was staggering to me as an American. Both from patrons and employees. I was breathing in smoke plumes pretty much everywhere.

[idontwantthis]

I wasn’t aware of Europe’s laws but I meant outside of Europe too with European expats. Living in Asia currently and second hand smoke is a big part of my social life.

[babypuncher]

I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, many of them make me feel nauseous. This may be because I'm young enough that public smoking has been banned for most of my life, so I never ever got used to the smell.

[wyclif]

Used to be that bars were the place you went in the US to smoke and drink. Since you can't smoke in bars (Note: "pubs" for UK readers) anymore, there's less of a reason to go to them, and it incentivizes drinking at home. Which has led to a lot of bars closing and fewer of them than ever.

[airstrike]

I don't think we're trying to solve for maximizing the number of bars

[babypuncher]

All the bars where I live seam busy as ever. I don't think smoking bans are hurting them at all.

[tshaddox]

You don't need bars or luck to make friends with European expats.

[tambourine_man]

Europe is the exception here, not the US.

[imtringued]

Isn't smoking a terrible deal, even for smokers? If its just about the nicotine there are lots of ways to get it without ruining your lungs or arteries (inflammation is the easiest way to get heart disease).

[thirdsun]

As a former smoker: It's not just the nicotine, it's also about the ritual, the habit and the social component. Although the latter might have changed these days as smoking has become a lot less popular since then.