> less smoking ads -> less smoking
Maybe, and so what? Let other people do what they want, as long as it doesn't affect you.
Unless of course you're the standard do-gooder who can't bear to see others do things you have decided is wrong for them. If that's the way your brain is wired, there nothing left to say.
>less people smoking -> less harm to bystanders is true (which it obviously is).
It don't think it's obvious at all.
A smoker polluting other people with their second hand smoke is a smoker infringing on other people's freedom and right not to be poisoned.
And this is one rare area where government are actually supposed to be useful: defending your freedom not to be subjected to other people's stupidity.
That can perfectly happen without preventing people to poison themselves should they decide to.