I knew I had recently seen photos of Ben Affleck smoking, it was just a matter of finding them – back on March 7th, X17 got these shots of Ben smoking some cigarettes, just hanging out. He wasn’t working and he wasn’t with his kids. He just looked like a dude who was enjoying his cig. At the time I thought, “Huh, I guess he’s back to smoking. Just like Brad Pitt.” No matter how hard some people try, they always end up falling back into nicotine’s smoky embrace. It’s sad, but I understand how it happens. But The Enquirer says that Ben’s wife has put her foot down. Jennifer Garner is going to nag him until he quits. Which… isn’t really the most effective way you know.

Jennifer Garner is willing to put up with a little badboy behavior from hubby Ben Affleck, but she’s drawing the line at smoking cigarettes. Garner, who gave birth to son Samuel on Feb. 27, has ordered Affleck to kick the habit pronto! A former pack-and-a-half-a-day smoker, Ben quit through hypnotherapy treatment shortly before he and Jennifer welcomed their first daughter, Violet, in December 2005.

But friends say he’s had several relapses since then, including a year-long return to smoking after the birth of the couple’s second daughter, Seraphina.

Ben has also battled the bottle – doing a stint in rehab for alochol abuse in 2001 – but he’s had more trouble giving up cigarettes than booze.

“Ben always says he’s his own worst enemy,” one friend revealed. “It’s strange that it’s when he’s had the most blessed events in his life – like the births of his children – that he turns to self-destructive behavior.”

Ben tried to hide his habit from Garner, but the pal says she caught him lighting up behind their home not long after bringing home baby Samuel.

“She was furious when she saw him huddled in a corner, puffing away… she told him, ‘You’re never going to see our children graduate college or get married if you keep this up!’”

Another source says Jennifer tries to be an understanding wife to the sometimes-troubled actor. She tolerates occasional drinking and his appetite for high-stakes poker – he’s been known to lose six figures in a single evening.

“Her friends ask her why she puts up with Ben’s bad habits, and she just says she loves him and has to let him be who he is… but she won’t tolerate smoking. She hates that he’s around the kids with his clothes smelling like smoke, but her greatest fear is that he’s headed for an early grave.”

Ben has apologized and promised that he’ll seek hypnotherapy treatment again. “At this point, Ben has no choice but to quit,” added the friend. “Jennifer has demanded it.”

[From The Enquirer, print edition]

“Ben always says he’s his own worst enemy… he turns to self-destructive behavior.” I’ve always said that about him! Some people are just like that – they get too much good stuff happening in their lives, and they compulsively self-defeat. I have a streak of that too, so I recognize it in others. Personally, if I’m Jennifer Garner, I would be more worried about the gambling though. Gambling would be my biggest concern, then alcohol, then cigarettes. Does that mean I have mixed up priorities? Or does Jennifer?

Oh, and In Touch Weekly claims that following the birth of Samuel (“which put a spark back in their marriage”), the Afflecks are going to renew their vows on their seven-year wedding anniversary. A source tells In Touch, “They want to renew their vows with their kids…It’ll be great!” Sure. Why not?

Last thing: how hot does Affleck look in these most recent photos? I usually don’t like him with a beard, but something is definitely working here.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.