How do Government bans decrease demand?

[Chloe]

For example, when the Government implements a smoking ban - why does the demand for cigarettes fall?

[tgit23]

Actually cigarette sales are still increasing (mostly because of population growth). Government bans and media attention spotlight a product under negative light and drive prejudices and biases into society. Humans are very often extremely susceptible to prejudices.

Smoking bans have gone so far, they often have become an ultimatum around everything else; Education or Smoking, Social events or Smoking, Rent Apt or Smoking & Buy a house, Take kids to the park or Smoking, Take kids with you to the store or Smoking. Seems Anti-smokers have done a pretty darn good job of completely killing/stealing any sense of freedom a person who smokes might actually be entitled to.