I sort of knew that someone would immediately trot out the argument that "it's no use banning stuff, 'cause then you get underground/criminal distribution...etc..."

You note exactly what I said:
"...the day every civilized country officially bans commmercial sales of it can't come too soon for me!"

let me add.." smoking ANYWHERE in public building or on public streets"

If it were made VERY difficult and expensive to obtain, and you couldn't do it openly and legally, and it couldn't be distributed in commercial packs, it would be seriously restrained! Yeah, some might go to any lengths, but you can't easily grow tobacco in closets with grow-lights, and there would be FAR less of it out there and FAR fewer kids discovering it early and FAR fewer deaths and disease. And I'll take that, along with being able to breath at a folk club!

**ANY** reduction in tobacco intake is good...especially cigarettes.