To be flabbergasted that more than 20% of the population still smoke - really?!?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I've just heard this on Radio 5 If someone had asked me what I thought was the percentage I'd have guessed about 5%?

Anyone else surprised? I know about 300 people roughly and I don't know anyone that smokes. In my family I know one, my BIL, who does.

Anyone else surprised by that statistic?

Very surprising!

They are all dirty mingers though!

Nope.

Not really
Loads of older people are part of the generation that always smoked like my mil
Loads of teenage girls still smoke
Quite a few of my work mates do

I thought it was around 27%. That was the figure I last heard (maybe 2-3 years ago?) Goes to show how many have quit or died :) I smoke but not many of my friends do anymore. I have cut down from 10 a day to 2. Those are the ones I'm having trouble with.

Not surprised they do but I am surprised 20% can afford to!!!!!! I couldn't afford to smoke tho' I'm not rich I'm not the most poor person I know!

Yes us smokers are all dirty mingers! I have the odd one or two still. I'm the biggest ming-burger of the lot.

Why would you be suprised? Every shop/garage/supermarket still sells cigs, not like they are a specialist product. You get them every where because loads of people still smoke. Although I would imagine less younger people now, what with knowing the risks an all that stuff.

Smokers have just been forced underground. I never do it in public as I would hate to chuff all over someone. I have one or two a day, in my back garden, when I get home from work. Mmm lovely faaaaag.

They have a death wish.

Might be an age thing - most of my parents generation are dead (lots of them smoked)

Teenage dd hates smoking and very, very few of her peer group smoke - whereas when I was at school lots of girls smoked.

I literally don't know anyone who smokes in their 30's/40's.

A few years ago I would have been surprised because no one I knew smoked, not friends, not at work. Then we moved to a different area and here people smoke, I found it really surprising. I had thought smoking was really being phased out but now I just think its being pushed to the edges, into small pockets of smokers.

Yes, all shops sell them Eliza but it's such a small display - no bigger than the very posh spaghetti/pasta display at my local supermarket

I sort of assumed because of the very small displays now that much smaller numbers would use it and it would be a 'niche' product

This was on the radio this morning. They gave a sound clip from 1962 when the original Smoking and Health report concluded that smoking was a definite cause of cancer. I think there were 5 people interviewed in the clip and 4 of them had "upper class" accents.

The presenter said that in 1962 70% of men and 44% of women smoked and it was an activity more likely to be followed by affluent people.

Now it is supposed to be poorer people who smoke most. At £6 per packet, I do often wonder how anyone can afford to keep smoking. I smoked up until 2 years ago, and found I was able to give up full time work because I was saving so much by not smoking. Imagine, if I'd saved the £40 or so per week (or equivalent) for the 30 years I smoked

Even just one or 2 and it smells on you.... Wonder if smokers realise how bad they smell?

I'm surprised tbh.

I knew a fair few people who did smoke when younger, but all have long since given up.

Even my MIL who had smoked since 13 stopped when DD was born.

My DS is 13 and is adamant he won't.

In fact, both socially and professionally, I only know 1 person who does and he's in his 60s. I'm always more surprised to see people smoking than not nowadays.

I do wonder/worry how the gov will make up the lost revenue if everyone stops smoking altogether, so smokers, long may you continue!!!

If it's now mostly much less affluent people who smoke then that explains why I went to a party of 130 people and no one did - it was quaite naice.

Laurie Yes, I think you're right. The town I was in before was affluent and where we are now, whilst our neighbourhood is nice, the town on average is much less affluent.
I don't understand how someone on a low income/benefits could afford to smoke though, it is so expensive!

Yes. So far I have learned about myself from this thread that I am a poor, Jeremy Kyle watching, dirty, uneducated minger who pays for public services.

When I was at middle school about 20 years ago there was poster that said "1 in 3 smoke the other two choke" so 20% is a big improvement on that. I think it's a really reassuring thing and agree with those who say a lot of smokers will be in the older age group where smoking was just something everyone did. I don't know that many people who smoke but it does seem more prevalent in some areas than others.

Tbh I would of thought it was more. I quit as soon as I found out I was pregnant. So did DP. I would say around half of the people I know smoke.

An I still have the occasional couple whilst out having a bevy. But that's once every couple if blue moons

When I walk along the street from work to the tube (central London) it feels like 90% smoke. Yuck.

Latsia :o Don't forget that you stink too.

I don't think the affluent / non-affluent distinction is right. IME the difference is that those in affluent areas smoke cigars (men, mainly) and / or not in public (both).

It's funny, I can't remember the last time I saw someone smoking a cigarette. When I see smokers now it's roll ups.

Look. I hum like last night's barnyard dance. I know it!

i know loads of people who smoke