I don't for one moment accept that smokers were and are the cause of the current nanny state.
No, that lays directly at the feet of leftists and progressives who know what is best for YOU.
You can refuse to accept it if you like, but you’re old enough to know better. You lived through it, same as me.
The aggressively arrogant conduct that was typical of 1970s cigarette smokers gave the nanny-staters an opening, and they took it. Big time.
Control yourself, or be controlled. The latter is always worse.