Here's example pic from my previous post. Its from a village that also grows tobacco after the rice harvest. Neither local villagers got them hooked on smoking or were unable to kick the habit even after becoming a monk.
Even it could be true that some of the young monks might not be able to kick their habit with nicotine nevertheless an individual would put him-self in a degrading situation like the one that you've posted. This is clearly shown that the man is not a monk just because he happens to wear a saffron sarong... case closed!
The previous picture was of a young monk smoking in public taken a tourist. Here's one with the older monks smoking during a private ceremony and needed a quick break! lol
This brings up a good question. What will the general lao public allow and not allow monks to do?
