Back in the good old days, before people like you and your buddies were actually taken seriously, there were plenty of restaurants who catered to smokers during those hours.
Any statistics on how they're doing now?
You know, the ones who are patronized now by people with coupons who order pasta dishes, or the real risk takers who might get the boiled chicken and linger over endless cups of coffee, bumping the check up another buck?
It really doesn't matter. This battle front has been lost by smokers. Within a few years all restaurants and bars in the US will be smoke free with the possible exception of Nevada.
The new front is smoking at home and in the car but by the time you folks notice, the anti's will be steamrolling you there too and just like the bars and restaurants, you won't know what hit you.
So far you folks have not come up with a winning argument.