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Original poster

How many of your friends & family smoke?

186 replies

Bunnylady53 · 18/08/2019 18:44

I notice at work ( The Range) that quite a few people go out for a fag in their break & I got to thinking that apart from colleagues, I don’t think I know anyone who smokes. I never have & I hate it. Was really shocked at one of our managers who had a near fatal heart attack last year but was still lighting up the other day. Is smoking generally decreasing?

OP posts:
Tryingtoslim · 19/08/2019 01:32

I’m early 20s and almost all my friends and everyone I know smokes whether that be socially on nights out or “full time”. While on a uni trip a few months ago I’d say atleast half the course were smoking all a similar age of late teens/ early twenties

Bloodybridget · 19/08/2019 03:01

One friend who smokes occasionally, one who claims to have given up many years ago, but many of us are sure she is a secret smoker; she chews nicotine gum constantly.

Gingerkittykat · 19/08/2019 03:41

@Bunnylady53 I agree it should be a wake up call, I keep meaning to get around to getting a vape and will get there on day.

omafiet · 19/08/2019 03:56

Most of my cousins (all in their 30s/40s) but none of my friends. My parents, aunts and uncles were all heavy smokers so why my cousins even tried it I'll never know.

whitebowls · 19/08/2019 05:09

None in my family smokes. No close friends smoke. 2 not so close friends smoke (and stink), one has COPD.
Recently went on holiday to Greece and so many people smoked, young people especially. Lighting up in restaurants as people were eating around them and they were between courses.
Mainly the young ones looked like they spent ages on their appearance, beautifully dressed, girls with fabulous long glossy hair......and then practically chain smoking and smelling awful. Beyond my understanding.

BunchMunch · 19/08/2019 05:14

I used to smoke but quit about 5 years ago.
DH quit 4 years ago after much nagging from me. He vapes now.
My DB still smokes and my BIL does, despite having a triple bypass and COPD.

The smell of cigarette smoke makes me feel physically sick now.

I cringe when I see teenagers smoking. They're making such a big mistake.

LiveInAHidingPlace · 19/08/2019 05:19

Colleagues, none. From my family, my aunt does despite trying to give up for years. My friends, maybe a couple but no one who I'd say is a close friend.

My husband's friends, on the other hand, all do. He's the only one who doesn't. We don't live in the UK though and most guys still smoke here, especially over 30 or so. Quite shocking considering all his friends are sporty and have families. It's still relatively cheap here, maybe 3 pounds a pack or even less.

I used to but thankfully gave up, now the smell makes me heave.

Purpleartichoke · 19/08/2019 05:26

No family. No friends. No coworkers.

Kinsters · 19/08/2019 05:35

None of my friends or family smoke. DH will have the occasional cigarette socially but it probably works out at less than a pack a year!

Zoflorabore · 19/08/2019 05:36

One of my grandparents ( I had 3 ) smoked.
Both my parents have never tried smoking.

Myself and my 2 brothers all smoked. They both now vape but I still smoke. It's my biggest regret.

My best friend smokes too.

My 16yr old ds hates the fact that I smoke ( never ever inside ) and says a few of the girls in his friendship group do but none of the boys.

Just been to Turkey and seemingly everyone smokes there.

Ticklemeelmo · 19/08/2019 08:11

Most of my friends used to smoke but a fair few have given up or switched to vaping. Some still smoke.

I don't think I could ever date a smoker again, the smell makes me feel sick now.

fantasmasgoria1 · 19/08/2019 08:28

My mil, bil, brother and son smoke. I smoked from 35 until 6 months ago. My best friend and her husband smoke. My fiance never has and hates it. My mother and father both smoked. I see people smoking everywhere I go, local shops, city centre. Some colleagues have smoked in various jobs.

fussychica · 19/08/2019 09:58

None.

dontgobaconmyheart · 19/08/2019 11:13

I'm not sure I know of anyone in my family or social circle who smokes. I have no idea why anyone would start so it's a shame to hear those a bit younger than me still are; I had rather naively assumed hardly anyone did anymore until I recently started house hunting and quite a lot of the houses smell strongly of smoke.

CurbsideProphet · 19/08/2019 11:16

None of my friends and family smoke, neither do my FH's friends.

MIL smokes, despite DH having asthma since he was a baby. I think other members of her family smoke too.

MummyOfTwo92 · 19/08/2019 11:16

None now. Me & DP both ex smokers, quit over 2 years ago. I have 3 sisters and all ex smokers now, their DPs have quit or have never smoked. Parents don't smoke.

Bravelurker · 19/08/2019 11:24

So my question is, how easy is it to quit the vape? When I quit smoking over 5 weeks ago there was so much support and encouragement around it, but nobody appears to be doing the same for vapers.
I know vaping is no where near as bad but you are still having to go outside in public places and you are still a slave to something.

VLCDoingIt · 19/08/2019 11:26

I don't.
DH does.
Mum does.
Dad does.
2 sisters do.
Both grandmother's do.

I cant stand it.

MarySibleysFamiliar · 19/08/2019 11:28

My mum smokes still.
MIL gave up 11 years ago and I quit 10 years ago. I'm not much of an anti smoker but I do get mad that my mum lights up in the car when I'm in but doesn't like the window open more than a cigarette sized crack. I hated choking half to death like that when I did smoke so it's way worse now.
Now that it's illegal to smoke with children in a car she has solved this by simply not having my children in her car any more (we only live 6 miles away), but to be fair her grandkids have never been a priority and this law means she's got a better excuse to bother less with them.
Dad and DSis now vape.
Working class family with many many smoking aunts and uncles. Many of whom still smoke now.

My neighbours smoke and I'll happily sit outside having a chin wag while they have a cig but on windy days, when they open their front door it pushes the stale fag house smell through tiny gaps from an alcove shelf into our adjoining wall space then into our living room through our own alcove shelf. I need to buy sealant. It reeks there now.

spiderlight · 19/08/2019 11:48

My sister-in-law vapes. None of my other friends or family smoke at all though, which is a cheering thought because it was a such a norm when I was a kid.

tisonlymeagain · 19/08/2019 11:54

Most of my colleagues but none of my friends or family.

Strugglingmum73 · 19/08/2019 12:08

10 years ago my grandparents and my dad. All now dead. I don’t know anyone who smokes now.

wheresmymojo · 19/08/2019 12:14

It's definitely decreasing - I saw a graph about it the other day.

Only about 15% of people smoke now.

I know one person who smokes socially and when anxious (has complex MH issues).

That's it...

Junoon · 19/08/2019 12:19

If you’d have asked me in my 20s I’d have said most of my friends smoked, whether it be every day or just socially.

I’m 40s now and none of my friends or family smoke. Even my dad, who was a dedicated 20-a-day man for 50 years, gave up 10 years ago.

A couple of colleagues smoke, quite a few vape, but nobody I know well outside of work smokes anymore.

SpaceCadet4000 · 19/08/2019 12:23

1 friend. 2 family members now vape (Dad and Uncle).