Coffee and cigarettes are two things that have always gone together. You may not be a smoker, but if you’ve ever gone to a coffee shop or know a smoker, you’re already aware of the close relationship these two activities have.

It’s been difficult for smokers in recent years to continue this habit, since many cities have enacted bans on the practice. The federal government has yet to enact a nationwide ban, but has left it up to the determination of each state to enact its own policies against smoking.

As of March 2011, 27 states have currently passed legislation to limit the use of some tobacco products, and this trend is likely to grow. Effective May 23, 2011, New York will pass a statewide ban on smoking in most public spaces.

The pairing of these two activities has been a mainstay for generations, and a benchmark way to pass time. Smoking is an addiction millions of people have, and it has extensive negative affects on your health. However, it’s intriguing how two activities, that seem to have nothing to do with each other, have been grouped so pervasively across many borders and cultures.

With smoking bans gaining momentum, not just in America but across the world, it’s surprising that it hasn’t had a substantial effect on the number of smokers, especially in the UK, where smoking bans have been in place since 2004. Since then, the restrictions have become more stringent, yet it hasn’t been affecting the numbers of smokers.

It’s not surprising that most tobacco companies have begun aggressive campaigns to stay ahead of the curve by creating smokeless tobacco products, like Snus and the electronic cigarette. Though some of these smokeless alternatives have been moderately successful, cigarettes are still the first tobacco choice among customers. The market continues to be successful, despite efforts, and traditional cigarettes are dying a slower death than expected.

It seems, for the time being, people will continue to partake of drinking alcohol and coffee, while smoking a cigarette. Although the overall number of smokers has gone down over the years, due to conclusive health studies, statistics, and successful anti-smoking campaigns, it isn’t happening as quickly as everyone thought.

Diligence and education seem to work, but cigarettes are an associative activity, especially when drinking coffee. People identity with the practice, regardless of the consequences. Perhaps the success will have to be measured in decades passed the smoking bans.