This is actually the classic example of where personal accountability fails, which is what cigarette companies would lobby for. Which is the root of this post

As a result governments have stepped in and now there are age restrictions on both smoking and alcohol, blood alcohol limits for driving, lockout laws, no advertisement of cigarettes in supermarkets, additional taxes on cigarettes, plain packaging on cigarettes.

Making something immediately completely illegal isn’t necessarily the correct course of action. But governments have stepped in to try and help people exercise personal accountability.

Disclaimer: the examples are from within Australia