Things have changed a lot across Europe over the past decade or so, with smoking in bars, restaurants, clubs and other public spaces illegal across much of Europe. Honestly, sometimes is seems like smokers are treated as a leperous sub-class (I'm not a smoker myself, just an observation).

Outdoors things are changing too - tax on tobacco is ever increasing, even if it's still relatively cheap in some European countries, and more people are conscious of the damage smoking does to their bodies. Additionally, a lot of smokers, especially in more affluent European countries, have switched to vaping.

> Honestly, sometimes is seems like smokers are treated as a leperous sub-class (I'm not a smoker myself, just an observation).

That's because these f are blowing stinking odours in everybody's faces and clothes. Yes, even outside. I strongly defend that my right to fresh air trumps their right to smoke and annoy a whole terrace.

It’s striking how many people smoke tobacco in Paris - the French average 1089 cigarettes per person per year, compared to 685 where I live. The US is 1016.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_cigaret...

What's up with Andorra and Luxembourg in the statistics? Neighbouring countries coming to buy lower-taxed cigarettes?

Yes. Andorra and Luxemburg are both tiny, landlocked nations that are pretty modest when it comes to taxation, bordering on what I'd call tax havens.