To wonder why people would never defend smoking in the same way they do drinking?

[facemaskhate]

It's completely baffling to me.

The majority of people use alcohol and don't get any health problems. Not many smokers get away with zero health effects. It isn't just cancer and heart disease. It's the COPD and emphysema that put me off, having worked in hospitals.

I think the difference is that you can drink alcohol in sensible quantities.

Binge-drinking is bad for you, but the odd glass of wine doesn't hurt anyone.

Smoking on the other hand, has no healthy limit. And even if it doesn't fur up your lungs and arteries, it makes your breath stink and is bad for your skin (so is alcohol but not too bad in small doses).

I think they are both just as bad but it is the messages sent from society that makes one more socially acceptable than the other.

Disclaimer: I am a vegan who doesn't drink or smoke so you would all probably think I am boring anyway.

Yes, you're being unreasonable, obnoxious and obtuse.

Let’s face it, neither are healthy options.

Both contribute a lot of money to the economy.

But I think the reason smoking is seen as indefensible is, as others have pointed out, its effect on those around you.

For example I can sit with my DC and drink a small glass of wine whilst they eat their tea. I won’t be drunk or abusive or ill. It might not doing me any actual good, health wise, but my consumption of it does not affect my DC whilst we sit there.

If I were to light up a cigarette, I would be actively polluting their air, clogging their lungs, quite literally making their environment toxic with every breath.

That’s why smoking is seen as worse.

Mainly the anti social aspect. Smoking one cigarette stinks and affects those around you whereas someone having one drink doesn’t affect anyone else.

But also most people can drink occasionally but smoking is more likely to be addictive. Of course people get addicted to alcohol as well but the majority don’t.

(I hardly ever drink and never smoke, so I’m not trying to justify my own behaviour here)

Smoking carries a much greater health risk than drinking. It also affects the health of others around you. Drinking in moderation has also been shown to have some health benefits. The two aren't really comparable.

It may be bad for my health but boy I’ve got some amazing memories of my younger days which involved plenty of it! I’m a very moderate drinker now (have never smoked) but fully expect to live a long healthy life. But I guess we’ll see, that’s one thing we can’t predict even if we live a drug/drink/smoke free life. So let’s just enjoy whatever our vices are and leave off.

Because for most people drinking is a lot more enjoyable than smoking?
There's a lot more variety, it's less anti social, it tastes nice, it has a nice effect.
I know health wise it's not good, but I like drinking.

@Babbly

I hate these kinds of posts. It's just "I think drinking is really bad but I'm trying to phrase it like a question so I don't sound like a judgy bitch".

Same. Love how OP is on here to passive aggressively 'educate' like she is the guardian angel we have been waiting for.

I think most people would agree that drinking alcohol doesn't benefit our health, but as adults we can weigh up the risk (health detriment) and reward (enjoyment) and make a decision for ourselves. Same could be said for many things, chocolate, chicken nuggets, red meat, not exercising ... Everything in moderation.

With regards to the comparison to smoking, as many people have said passive smoking is a major factor. Plus that fact it is smelly and unpleasant/unattractive. Plus drinking regularly but not to excess is unlikely to lead to death due to a drink related illness, smoking regularly but not to excess is likely to lead to death due to smoking related illness. Consumption of alcohol many lead to early death in the same way bad eating habits will, general lower health level.

Both as bad as each other imo..
I've known many people die from alcohol related problems, then theres the drink driving issues and anti social piss heads after closing time.

Moderate drinking isn't bad for your health and possibly may be beneficial.

Smoking is really, really bad for your health and the people around you and you need to stop OP>

Over eating and inactivity are pretty bad for you too

@JemimaJoy

Actually, it's a very well known, well researched and well documented fact that drinking moderately is better for your health than not drinking at all, and moderate drinkers have longer life expectancies than people who don't drink at all. (Although of course drinking heavily is worse for your health than not drinking at all). Shocked you didn't know that since you seem to have such strong views on the topic. A quick Google search is your friend.

THIS