Speaking as an ex smoker of nearly 20 years, like it or loathe it, banning smoking in pubs was the beginning of the end for pubs as we knew them.
Pubs that served food, survived, while all those independently owned ‘back street’ pubs that relied on selling booze only, went to the wall.
Mind you, people are drinking far less these days than they used to - particularly the younger generation.
we smoked and drank standing up yet somehow have survived. I’ll bet this is being driven by insurance costs or similar.
Yep, I used to smoke in pubs years ago as well, on buses, trains and The London Underground too. It’s hard to imagine smoking on any of the above in 2026. Times change and in my opinion all for the better as far as smoking bans are concerned! 
Cleaner air for sure, and better for our health, but no doubt hit the pub trade at the time - many pubs had to reinvent themselves or go under.
Still, as you say, times change.
That’s because they’re doing drugs instead. 
That is a possibility.
I hope that’s meant to be a joke! 
Drugs always make me thirsty.
No joke.
I don’t know where you live, but in our town centre the strong smell of weed pervades the air on almost every street.
Yeah here as well, but they’re not young people - i would say in the 40+ age group!
I’ve seen, and smelt, weed being used by people younger than 40 just casually walking down the street, as though it’s as (un)natural as smoking a cigarette.
Plenty of discarded little plastic bags lying on the ground in local parks in my neck of the woods. I suspect the little herbal motif on the front of some of them isn’t oregano 
For medicinal use perhaps…?
Undoubtedly!
I have two of those, bought from a car boot for £5 the pair, they are very useful. 
