I wasn't sure where you were going with this, but, I can say if you went 20 years back, the US might have been on the high end of use. Whenever I watch old movies, smoking is glamorized, in both men and women.

Oh, they were akin to sex scenes, without the sex.

When they started making places no smoking, I was sure that the bars and restaurants would go bankrupt, because isn't that when a cigarette was supposed to taste best? While drinking or after a substantial meal? Coffee and a cigarette or a beer and a ciggie...

I have to say that I don't do any day to day socializing with any smokers. Anymore. Of course, nowadays, nobody is socializing, so that just counted for nothing.

!tip