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?

callmemrs
You can smell smoke on people in Poundstretchers and Iceland?
Really?
I take it you can't in Waitrose or Debenhams.
That is probably the stupidest statement I've ever heard on MN

True. Smoking kills only half of long-term smokers. So you don't know which half you will be in. So 50/50. Great odds eh?

Yes but you WILL die whatever ....so 50 /50 smoking or non smoking doesn't mean much. Plenty of early deaths on "the why not to have children too late thread" on AIBU. What if your not a long term smoker...take it up at 40/50 years?

Ponyofdoom -

Cost is relative. A packet of Golden Virgina and a packet of papers ids £4.50 at most. That's a bottle of wine. So 3 fags a day is a bottle of wine a week. That's acceptable "treat" level for most people I would say.

True but do most smokers have 3 a day? I thought 20 plus a day was the norm??

20% doesn't really surprise me. It's about what I would have expected in the UK.

Where I used to live it seemed like it was about 50% and I was quite a heavy smoker myself... when I moved to the UK I just stopped pretty much over night. Was having a cigarette in a pub beer garden outside and just suddenly felt sick and thought it was disgusting Glad I quit so easily in the end. I did try and fail a few times before.

I have about 3 a day. If someone at work finds out or anyone for that matter they quickly exclaim "I never knew you smoked! You don't look like the type! You don't smell!" so either they are lying (and what would be the point in that) or they just didn't know. Which means is entirely possible to smoke and others not to be aware.

Quick unscientific poll:

I smoke
DH smokes
3 x best friends smoke, 1 doesn't (but does smoke weed when drunk), 1 doesn't at all.
DH's 1 best friend smokes, 1 doesn't (same with weed)
My mum smokes
My sister smokes
SIL smokes, BIL doesn't.

So, I'm not surprised, but then I am a smoker therefore perhaps more likely to know lots?

That is the point of UIBA though. Do you have a Daily Mail point of view or do you think a bit harder about it. Where on earth is 20 a day from!

If you have a fag you are a smoker. Lot's of my friends will only smoke on a girls night out. Since the risk of smoking relates amount of time smoking rather than amount (opposite to booze) then an odd night out smoking isn't a risk. You can actually be a smoker without having one everyday!!

And agree with bringme, people are always very surprised when they find out I do. I smoke rollups - much less smelly.

You can always tell; I have a colleague at work who goes outside to smoke I think she only has 2 a day but as soon as she comes in, the smell hits you. I am not complaining as I am usually ponging of horses.

Not necessarily, it does depend what they smoke, plus their hand-washing, mint etc. regime.

You can always tell the ones you notice, you can't tell the ones you didn't!

Nope, not surprised. Most people I know smoke. Not 20 a day. More like 4 or 5. Can't smell it on most of them either.
Whether it's right or wrong....I don't care...they can make their choice...they're adults.

I thought it was a lot more than 20%. So it is a pleasant surprise to find that 80% are not smokers. Having said that only three people in my family smoke (that I know of). All on DH's side. I can't stand any of them, so don't care much about them.

I hate smoking. It is a vile, disgusting habit and I (maybe unfairly) think anyone who is under 40 years old and smokes is weak. Weak to have given in to that first one particularly knowing it is addictive and is directly linked to cancers. Why, with all the info we have to hand, would anyone choose to start smoking.

I hate smoking because of the twatish selfish smokers who normally stand outside my favourite restaurant smoking. Blocking the pavement and thus forcing old people and pushchair pushers to walk on the the bloody road. On more than one occasion they have the bloody audacity to get stroppy when I ask them (very politely) to 'excuse me' so I can pass without having to walk into the road. Pathetic losers.

I hate smoking because one of son's cheek was grazed (very superficially) by a cigarette when someone walked by him carelessly swinging the cancer stick. Stupid, dirty stinking woman.

I hate the smell of smoke. recently smelt cigarette in my house. No-one who works or lives in my house smokes. I go to investigate...when I open front door a bloke is standing on my doorstep sheltering from the rain --smoking.

One ex-friend of mine started smoking at the tender age of 24.

I hate smoking. Two things I had to know about DH when I first met him: did he smoke/dabble in illicit drugs and was he in a relationship? An affirmative answer to either one of those questions and the relationship would have been a none starter.

Maybe my dislike of smoking is because all the people I know well who smoke are generally selfish offish drunkards, with bad breath. I'm sure that can't be true of every smoker but hey this is my experience.

Having said all of that I'm always pleased to hear stories of people who are successful in quitting. And I am glad no-one I love dearly smokes; cancer is evil and smoking increases the likelihood of developing cancer.

Some very alarming stats:

Nearly 30% of all cancer deaths are caused by smoking.
90% of all lung cancers caused by smoking.
6.5 million people have died from smoking related cancers in the last half century.
Over 110,000 people a year in the UK die from smoke related illnesses.

WTF is with all the smoking threads at the moment? Are people hoping that smoking will become the next benefit scrounging goats on buses issue here or what?

Yes Wibbly, that's the impression I'm getting.
There always seems to be a group that people want to rant about, and I'm always on the opposing side.
I have problems being perfect, but I'm not working on it.

tbh this thread is making me want to smoke. We're all going to die anyway, there's an argument for saying we might as well enjoy life while we can and if we enjoy smoking... also over 70% of cancers not caused by smoking
it's just that smoking's not socially acceptable whereas people neck tons of booze which is bad for their mental as well as physical health (and more detrimental to those around them)

Bloody hell there are some very angry people on this thread

Or maybe it's just me, I can't get all worked up about someone else's personal choice when it has no affect on me what so ever

I'm one of the 20%. Got some patches today. So that's patches, patches, patches, hypnotherapy, patches, applicator things that look like tampons and now patches . I've read whatsisname Carr, got a fag buster book by my bedside collecting dust , wash my hands, always have chewing gum in my pocket, don't smoke in the house, smoke roll-ups. Huge swathes of my aquaintances don't know I smoke.

Darned hard to stop tbf. Was I stupid to start? yes I was. Is it the biggest con going? Yes, makes me furious. Is it harder to give up than heroine? Yes (apparently), highly addictive. Did I know that when I started? No. Is it just another boring old vice that is bad for you but seems to draw out the holier than thous these days? [I'm looking at you neptune - get over yourself]

btw I'm bona fide (sp - she smokes AND she can't spell ) not a selfish offish drunkard. I'm a good girl I is.

springy I've heard the electric fag is good

Yes springy, I agree that I am very much 'holier than thou' about smoking... but no I won't get over myself. Why should I? I abhor smoking. Nothing wrong in feeling this way.

Really about the amount of people saying they HATE smokers. It is small minded to say you hate someone because of a lifestyle choice they make. If your best friend suddenly decided to give up smoking would you automatically hate them?

I'm a smoker it's MY choice. I don't smoke in the street out of consideration to non smokers, but I also expect their consideration in turn not to lecture me. I am an adult fgs and to be honest you must be stupid to not know the risks. Would you go up to an obese person in public and lecture them on the slice of pizza they are eating? It has become some sort of trend to vilify smokers and for what bloody reason??

I understand the risk of smoking but there are risks in everything we do, eating shit food, going on a sunbed ect. It is up to the individual to choose to take those risks and has nothing to do with anyone else!

*best friend suddenly decided to take up smoking

Mon Dieu, there are some sanctimonious bores on this thread.

I probably have about 3 cigarettes a year - has to be Sobranie Black Russian - beautiful, elegant and occasionally very satisfying. It wouldn't bother me terribly if I didn't have another one, but it's my right to choose - subject to showing courtesy by not smoking in people's houses, flicking ash at babies' prams etc.

I know people who smoke and people who don't - in my experience, the smokers are often much more fun to be around.