College students are the fastest-growing group of first-time-smokers according to the CDC.
Is it something you'd encourage your kids to do?
No, but I wouldn't get hysterical if they did.
Why would a business want to encourage/allow on-premises an activity that tends to reduce productivity, increase insurance rates, and drive away good employees?
Lotta unproven assumptions in that one statement, FP. I've owned a business that employed more than 100 people and smokers were by far my best employees. A recent Rand study showed that smokers are not less productive, and that holds true in some businesses like those in Eden Prairie that threatened to move more than 1000 employees out of the city if the council passed a smoking ban that included them. I'd hire only smokers before I'd put up with a whiny bunch of antis.
Eden Prairie backs away from widespread smoking ban
2 October 2002
Last month, one of the city's largest employers threatened to relocate many of its 600 jobs if the stringent ban were passed.
The Douglas Corp, a manufacturer of car logo emblems, joined metallic-balloon manufacturer, Anagram International, and other businesses in lining up against the proposal. Douglas officials estimated that one-third of their employees smoke.