Complicated issue for sure. All I know is this. Many of my doctor friends tell me that tobacco addiction is so strong that some smokers who were hooked while the tobacco companies were keeping the ill effects a secret may NEVER succeed in quitting. They also lament than "big pharma" hasn't come up with better "quit smoking" drugs that could be used like methadone on heroin addicts.

The question is simply this. Are ships going to provide these people an isolated, private place to smoke (like their own designated smoking cabins) while banning smoking in all public areas and balconies so as not to impact he rest of us? Apparently not. Instead, the ships are still allowing smoking in some public areas, are making casino's "smoke holes" and therefore inaccessable to some of us, and banning smoking from the most isolated and private places (i.e. designated smoking cabins). It is not that I disagree with the premise that Regent (and other lines) needs to ban smoking from more areas than in the past. It's just that I think the particular approach is "bass ackwards!"

And yes, alcoholics should also find a more "friendly" set of policies onboard. Since it is not possible to have "designated alcoholic rooms" (and would do no good), ships need to work at removing the temptation and social pressure on alcoholics to drink. This might include having a few tables at dinner where alcohol is not served, and curtailing the "hawking" of drinks on the mass market lines.