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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is social smoking?

54 replies

LadyEatsCrispsALot · 26/11/2011 23:16

I mean my relationship is on the line with this debate....How often is just social smoking? Only on nights out? Birthdays? Is only at weekends counted as social smoking? If you don't smoke all week but just Friday nights with wine, is that? I confused so thoughts appreciated..

OP posts:
Sevenfold · 26/11/2011 23:17

i always(I smoke) thought it was....
people give up, but still love a fag when out drinking, so have a couple then.

grograg · 26/11/2011 23:19

I used to be a social smoker...I would only smoke on a night out, no idea why i actually did that though.

workshy · 26/11/2011 23:19

social smoking I would say is if you have had a few too many drinks and are out with smokers so have one or two

but met someone on a dating website who left me half way through dinner to nip out for a fag as he was 'nervous'

IMO social smokers don't buy their own

workshy · 26/11/2011 23:20

must add -he told me he was a social smoker which I could have lived with but I'm not sure if he was trying to kid himself, or me???

HecateGoddessOfTheNight · 26/11/2011 23:21

having a fag when you're down the pub.

Not having cravings for cigs and not being bothered if you don't have one for weeks, but looking at them when you're out with your mates and nabbing one.

The thing about social smoking is it is social smoking. So not on your own in the house, but when you are socialising.

You can be an occasional smoker. Once a week or so.

I smoke (secretly!) when I go over to see my mum or sister. I can go all week without a cig and not bother, but I have awful cravings when I get in the car to go and see them. I associate them with having a fag twenty actually

LadyBeagleEyes · 26/11/2011 23:23

I would love to be a social smoker, it means you've got it under control and only have one when the mood takes you.
There are people like that, but IMO it's very rare.
I'm a total addict.

squeakytoy · 26/11/2011 23:25

Social smoking is just when you are out with others who smoke and you have a cigarette as well. Or if you just have the occasional cigarette now and again.

I wish I was just a social smoker instead of an ever puffing chimney, it would save me a fortune! Grin

Original poster
LadyEatsCrispsALot · 26/11/2011 23:30

Hmmmn. My social smoking is Friday nights when I drink my lovely wine. Apparently this is not 'giving up' smoking. My DH having a major issue about it. We agreed to stop as we were drinking and smoking every night. We have stopped that but I see the Friday night as just cos I can indulge.
Is this unreasonable if I have made the promise to 'give up'???

OP posts:
MidsomerM · 26/11/2011 23:36

Everyone I've known who's given up but decided to be a "social smoker" has ended up being a "proper" smoker again within in a matter of months. Most of the smokers I know say it's an all-or-nothing thing. But I'm not a smoker so I don't really know.

workshy · 26/11/2011 23:38

don't do it!!!!!!!!

I started socially smoking in january after 10 years of being an ex smoker (and a messy break up)

by easter I was a smoker again and now trying and failing to give up

stay away from the cigarettes!

planetpotty · 26/11/2011 23:40

I'm a social smoker - to me means I don't smoke alone Hmm

PlinkertyPlonk · 26/11/2011 23:42

It's an oxymoron. :)

Deargdoom · 26/11/2011 23:44

It usually means you smoke other people's instead of buying your own

LadyBeagleEyes · 26/11/2011 23:44

If you can do it just on a Friday night and keep it up, you're lucky.
But IME it's really all or nothing, I've never succeeded in being a social smoker, It just creeps up on you and you start again on the same old cycle.

BluddyMoFo · 26/11/2011 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dearprudence · 26/11/2011 23:47

I think you can only be a social smoker if you've only ever been a social smoker. I'm in my forties and have never smoked regularly. Since having DS it's very rare - maybe only 4 or 5 times a year, but when I was a student it might have been once or twice a week.

I know I've never been addicted. I suspect that might make a difference as to whether you can be a social smoker or not.

planetpotty · 26/11/2011 23:48

Ha plink nail on head!

Original poster
LadyEatsCrispsALot · 26/11/2011 23:52

Bluddy that's a really good point, but part of me feels I don't want him to dictate whether I do smoke socially or not. Stubborn moi???

OP posts:
pithtaker · 26/11/2011 23:58

Hard one. Generally I think It means that the smoker is not ever desperate for his next nicotine fix.

My DH is a full time smoker, I used to be, but after pregnancies etc, am not anymore. However, I will smoke when I'm drinking, a couple of fags a night.

If I go more than 3 days without though, I am a bitch, so I thik I am still addicted, just on a longer time scale.

BluddyMoFo · 26/11/2011 23:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
LadyEatsCrispsALot · 27/11/2011 00:00

I am stubborn then :))

OP posts:
pithtaker · 27/11/2011 00:00

yanbu

BluddyMoFo · 27/11/2011 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

confusedpixie · 27/11/2011 00:03

I'd say smoking on the very rare occasion when you're drinking and everyone else is smoking. I social smoke (used to be a 'full-time' smoker), about 5/6 times a year as for some reason I struggle to not smoke when drinking, I can't work it out Confused very rarely drink though and when I do I'm not often with smokers.

Anything regular I'd say is bog standard smoking though.

Original poster
LadyEatsCrispsALot · 27/11/2011 00:07

Thanks Bluddy.....I'm off for a social fag....alone!!

OP posts: