It's been a long time since I've smoked. I've lost people close to me and will soon lose another due to lung cancer or emphysema. Smoking sucks, but I do miss those quite moments outside in the cool air with a cigarette.
It's a shame we have to walk past / through so many people smoking on the sidewalk though. It really is quite a disgusting habit.
If you work in a smoke-filled bar for 20 years or something, second-hand smoke is probably bad for you although the evidence for even that is much weaker than originally claimed.
Second-hand smoke outdoors in open air has very little in evidence to support claims that it's going to do much to you.
https://slate.com/technology/2017/02/secondhand-smoke-isnt-a...
1 and 2 combine for a moment of micro-anger
Whether or not second-hand smoke is carcinogenic or otherwise detrimental, the smell alone should force a public ban.
Or my solution: let businesses determine whether or not they want to allow smoking and for the most part the non-smokers will self-segregate to the non-smoking establishments just to avoid smelling like a cancerous ashtray.