Is it me or is smoking cigarettes becoming cool again?

I really hope not there’s nothing on trend as getting smoking related diseases..as an ex smoker who smoked for 11 years I do worry about the damage I did I started at about 12 and stopped at 23.
Two years ago I was an inpatient in hospital and the lady next to me had emphysema she was told she had to go on oxygen which completely stressed her out she told the doctor she’d stop smoking and he told her it was too late …cancer and respiratory diseases should be enough to put anyone off smoking or vaping

God knows society needs the tax take from it though

Films and dramas still can't seem to let go of using smoking as an easy trope to indicate "cool and rebel". At least have them vaping instead, lol.

I can't say that I have noticed an increase in smoking TBH.

I tend to socialise where you can't smoke anyway, and none of my friends smoke. I think only one of DD's friends smokes.

Theres between a 30-50% increase in the risk of developing dementia for smokers

Not great odds

Your post is akin to 'my grandad smoked a pipe until he was 110 and never got ill'

Im not sure the argument that dying younger is the best recipe for avoiding dementia is a good one. Lifestyle factors are hugely significant for dementia. Unfortunately for me.

Everyone I know who has succumbed to it was a non-smoker. The only people in my family who escaped it were smokers who died in their 70s. Live to 80 with my family's genes and dementia will get you, so your reasonably healthy body is no use to you anymore. No thank you.

I’d hope not it smells and is atrocious. I haven’t ever smoked or vaped though.

I think this is it. Appetite suppression for the young ones who can’t access Fat Jabs.

It’s awful. I really hoped it was on its way out for good. DC is a gym bunny and hates the very idea of it but I did notice more girls standing around smoking in small groups around his Uni area when I last visited.

Hopefully they will give up soon with the prices!

Smoking hugely increases your risk of dementia, surely you know this!!!

Maybe it's part of a 'generational' thing whereby the youngsters of any generation do their best to piss off the generation before them (ie: their parents).

Everyone outside in London seems to be smoking. Noticed it increasing after covid.

Been a few articles about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8dy5v1kpno

I was sitting outside in Canary wharf recently and yes, i was really shocked at how many people, young and older, male and female, were smoking.
I'm sure it wasn't like this a few years ago, especially given it's a very smart place.

Definitely not cool.
But, I've noticed smoking seems to be everywhere again.

I’ve noticed this too!!

The leading cause of death in the UK is dementia and Alzheimers, which is not a smoking-related illness. I would rather die of any illness than that, smoking-related or not.

My son has unfortunately picked up the habit. I’m gutted really. My parents were heavy smokers, and our house absolutely stank. I feel like my son had the benefit of a smoke free home, so really has no idea how revolting it is to live with smokers. I’m hoping it’s a phase.

It’s become a signifier of being well off…. Either you’re on constant holidays or can afford it 🙄

vaping is see as being a bit tacky where I am. “Adults with dummies” etc: I actually think it smell worse

ideally none of it would exist!!

I bloody hope not

You'd think SMOKING KILLS would put them off, wouldn't you?!

You can't fix stupid but at least they're contributing tax to the economy I suppose.

Yes, quite a lot of famous younger people smoke cos it’s ‘cool’ again. Timothee Chalamet, Lilly Allen, Kylie and the other one, Dua Lipa, Charlie xcx. They ‘smoke to look cool’ with Lilly Allen and Charlie xcx both doing promotional work smoking as part of the aesthetic. I’m the same age as Lily Allen, and while I do like her, I think it’s idiotic.

Oh, absolutely. But the OP was talking specifically about cigarettes, I believe. I certainly smell weed whenever I'm in a city.

DP is a casual smoker, and I’m afraid I do think he looks cool/sexy when he lights up. I have no idea why because it’s been drilled into me since I was a child how disgusting a habit it is.

I think it might have something to do with it being a 90s aesthetic, and me being positively obsessed with the 90s.

I work at a university and noticed a definite increase in the numbers of students smoking around the doorways to our buildings.

It's strange that exercise, running, gym-going, attention to diet etc. are all very much more prevalent than in the past; but smoking is coming back into fashion? Seems a bit contradictory.

But then again my dad was always a gym-goer (or the multi-gym, they were called in the 70s!) and a heavy smoker for his entire adult life.
Died aged 70 from lung cancer.

I'm really miserable since I stopped smoking. I'm audhd and the loss of dopamine led to depression and craving sugar, so weight gain. It's been 17 years since I quit, I'm still miserable and fat, which will kill me prematurely anyway. Why live to be old if you're destined to get there in a state of misery? And most people die of some horrible illness anyway. You don't get a nice death because you're not a smoker. I suppose you might live more years in ill health before you die, but my damn weight is already causing problems and I'm not even old.