There’s plenty of admirable sentiments here, but also a measure of hyperbole. You can’t overstate the severity of smoking, but you can be far too harsh on those who smoke. And some of the statements up until this point regarding bochurim who smoke have been nothing short of ridiculous.
As has been repeatedly mentioned, virtually all of these bochurim start young due to social pressure, and find it very difficult to stop when older and more mature. These bochurim do not fall into any particular category, and include many who are excellent bochurim in every respect. As such it is utterly wrong to make any judgement on their character or religiosity. And in my considerable experience, even heavy smokers quit immediately and completely when they get married. That’s not to say there aren’t exceptions, but these constitute a tiny minority.
And I say this as a bochur who has never smoked, and dislike it immensely. But some of the vitriol on this thread has been excessive to say the least.