The 'Smoke-like-a-chimney-in-all-public-places' Syndrome

It is an irrefutable fact that Greeks are the largest per-person consumers of cigars and cigarettes. See the proof for yourselves.. Greeks are the undisputed champions when it comes to smoking, but the most annoying aspect of their smoking is when they completely disregard others(non-smokers) in public spaces, which are usually smoke-free environments to begin with. Not only that but what gets me(by the way I'm a non-smoker if you haven't noticed already) really uptight is when a Greek person lords it over himself that the habit is actually the trend nowadays and that everybody should do it. I feel like taking that person and ripping up his lungs in front of him so that he can see the black soot that he has amassed for himself. He'd probably be so thickheaded that he wouldn't even think twice about quitting.
To explain what instigates this behavior requires some knowledge of some of the factors that get the person involved in the habit. One attributing factor for the cause of this behavior is that people are so overwhelmed by the stressful conditions that are so prevalent here that they need some 'fix'(or drug) to cure their woes. This usually occurs when people are sent to train in Greece's armed forces. The training there must be so barbaric that people don't care if they live or die. So by choosing the slow death(smoking) they are content with their lot in life.
Another reason might be from peer pressure. There seem to be too many nit-witted youngsters who are swayed into thinking that it's the 'cool' thing to do. They fancy the fact that those who are getting the most attention are the ones who are puffing their life away one smoke at a time. So, when that time comes and they're offered a smoke, they reply back with the brain fart, "sure, why not."
Last but not least is the 'gas chamber.' If you ever find yourself in a cafe or club late at night, then you know what I'm talking about. When you enter one of these places the fumes encircle you, enticing you to cough and get into the atmosphere of things by slowly inhaling and becoming one with the smoke. Before you know it you're so soaked up in it that when you leave the place you actually come out looking as though you were suddenly torched by fire and then all of a sudden someone grabs a fire extinguisher and 'walla' - no more. The after affect of that metaphor I just used makes the person come out looking and smelling like a cigarette, except that he/she don't have any burning ash on their heads - only toxic smoke emanating from his/her head and clothes. If somebody got into the routine of doing this every evening for about a year or two(if he's still alive), then chances are that that person would most likely get tempted into the habit.
Another behavior that I find quite interesting is how Greek people try to light up the road with their cigarette butts, which they passively throw out of their windows while they are driving. If you're driving at night it almost looks like a fireworks display. Sparks start flying from all directions. Every time I see them pass through the underside of my car I get the feeling that my car is going to catch on fire and suddenly explode. Heeellloooo...have you ever heard of the ashtray in your car!!!
They say that in 2010 Greece will enforce smoke-free zones in all public locations. I highly doubt that Greeks will conform fully to these changes. They are so set in the status quo mentality that they can't afford to change their ways and make the world a better place. Well, let's hope that I'm wrong and they actually do end up taking it in their stride.

God Forbid: God forbid any Greeks should smoke in front of their children and make themselves appear as role models for them to follow. It's enough that we make our own lives into a cigarette butt that we just toss out of the car, but let's not throw away our children's lives along with ours.