Did your parents smoke and do you?

[RedSquirrel111]

Off the back of the news report today...

I started smoking at 13/14 (year 9). One parent smoked, and one set of grandparents who I idolised. Perhaps a bit obvious, but never thought about the connection before.

I know of lots of people who don't smoke who's parents did. But thinking about smokers, every single one I can think of one or both parents smoked.

Both my parents smoked as a kid. My dad gave up in my teens and my mum when I was at uni. I always thought it smelled vile and have never smoked a cigarette.

My dm did when I was a child and then she gave up after having my dsis ten years later. The gp guilted her into it as dsis had bronchitis. My df used to be a social smoker and he had a pipe. He also stopped, just like that.
I absolutely hated them smoking. I have never smoked and neither has dsis. One of my dbro's did though - started when he was 26!

Parents didn't to the point that they never even tried - neither of them. Very straight laced bless them.

I smoked socially for a few years as a young adult, but stopped without a problem and never have since. Would smoke a couple if pissed nowadays but very rarely to never am and never without kids in tow, and would never ever smoke in front of my dc so.

Yes my mum smoked (grew up with only my mum) and none of us smoke she had 6 of us not one of us are smokers

Both grandfathers did and my mum did. I did from 18-25 and managed to quit thankfully as it was getting out of hand.

Thinking off the top of my head about my friends and my DP, there does seem to be a pattern/connection re: the parents being smokers or not.

My mum was the only one out of her parents and siblings who didn’t smoke. I don’t smoke, my brother did

Dh’s parents and 2 of his siblings smoke. He stopped 3 years ago as have his parents and older sibling.

None of the nieces or nephews smoke,

@itssquidstella

Peer group definitely more influential for me: I started because I wanted to be accepted by the 'cool' crowd, all of whom smoked (and most of whose parents smoked too). I think smoking is more a class issue tbh; I know far fewer middle class people who have carried on smoking into adulthood than working class people.

Totally agree with this. I'm in a solidly middle class office profession and of our team of 4 all of us smoke (3 regularly, 1 socially). Its unusual enough to be commentated on a lot about how unusual it is. Also quite unusually for the industry 3 of us come from very solidly working class backgrounds/schools/areas

Both parents didn't and neither do I. Although both grans did.

I did smoke from 12-17 though and finally gave it up when I met dh as he was a non smoker. I actually hated smoking but well I guess I was addicted and I loved it with a drink lol.

Mum didn't and quite against it.
Dad did , but not massively. About 3/4 while at home.
One set of grandparents didn't, the ones I adored and spent the most time with.
The other grandad did , but we had a shitty relationship for various reasons.

I dabbled starting 14, a pack would last me more than a week when I started Uni and started proper/regular smoking when I was in my early twenties.

@RedSquirrel111 I’m middle class and was unusual at university and in my early twenties for being an actual smoker rather than a social smoker. But when I went back to my home town and spent time with school friends from working class backgrounds, it was totally normal to smoke!

I think a lot of middle class people smoke socially but, for whatever reason, are more able to give up or prevent the habit forming. No one I went to university with who smoked socially still smokes now.

Both parents smoked heavily. I don't, my sister does - well she's given up now but she's smoked on and off throughout her adult life from being a teen.

My dad died of lung cancer when I was 13 (he was 52) and my mum at 74 has suffered multiple strokes in the last 8 years.

I hope my children never smoke.

@MindTheChristmasGap

And it's obviously very addictive.

No, it's not. It's very much in the tobacco industry, pharmaceutical companies and tax departments interests to have you believe it is though.

Nicotine doesn't give your body anything it needs, nothing that the body stops making because smoking replicates it. It does persuade the brain that there's a connection between smoking and stress relief or social inclusivity; both of which are powerful incentives to continue. But addictive? Nope.

[quote itssquidstella]@RedSquirrel111 I’m middle class and was unusual at university and in my early twenties for being an actual smoker rather than a social smoker. But when I went back to my home town and spent time with school friends from working class backgrounds, it was totally normal to smoke!

I think a lot of middle class people smoke socially but, for whatever reason, are more able to give up or prevent the habit forming. No one I went to university with who smoked socially still smokes now. [/quote]
That's reminded me of another friend.
We're from a very working class deprived background. He got into Oxford (first in our school ever!). He started smoking at Oxford on a weird way to 'prove' his working class credentials. I think he just felt very put of place and took it up as an identifier

All my family smoke and I started smoking at 13, it helped that i could easily get ahold of fags by nicking them off my ma aha

Dad used to, mum never. I hated it. I remember sitting at the table finishing my tea and dad finished before us all, sat on the sofa and lit up. I could see the smoke coming towards the table and i raced to finish my food before I could smell it. Fucking disgusting.

I could not live with a smoker.🤢

Oh I thought nicotine was fairly hard to give up.cold turkey. That's the lie I was fed perhaps.😂

Well that's bollocks

Parents and grandparents smoked. I hated it, truly despised it and used to beg them to stop. I spent my childhood worrying they would die. They did all die of smoking related diseases in the end, my mum only in her 50’s.
I used to go the school stinking of smoke, our walls in our house were yellow and I was ashamed to bring people home. Social events would be interrupted constantly by the need for a fag, my mum missed the speeches at my wedding as she was outside having a smoke.
I would NEVER put my kids through that. My DH parents were the same and he feels the same as me.

I do t smoke, either dies my mum and dad.
Dh's mum and dad smoked no stop. Dh's brother and sister smike but he has never even smoked a cigarette in his life.
One ds doesnt smoke and the other son has the odd roll up.

Parents never smoked, both very anti -smoking. I've been smoking since I was 18.

Neither of my parents were smokers, mum occasionally a social smoker. One of my grandparents smokes and a few aunts etc.

Completely agree, peer group was more important despite being very close to my family.

I smoked for a little while and can be a social smoker, but what I really enjoy is the odd fag on my own once or twice a year, ideally in the bath. My parents certainly didn’t do that!

@RedSquirrel111

Be interested if anyone smokes who's parents/close family didn't.

I would say I was influenced by my peer group not parents. But in that peer group all the parents smoked....

Me Well I did - started at 12 and was on 30 a day when I quit age 31 Neither of my parents or any grandparents have ever smoked

Neither my parents nor dp's did but both of us did. I gave up but dp still vapes.

No and no

My mum did when I was younger and still does now (a lot).

I hate it and have never tried it!