Is it me or is smoking cigarettes becoming cool again?

[Sonato]

Just that really.

Seems like its coming back as an aesthetic, bit worrying for the younguns but also has me itching to light up having packed in 20 odd years ago

I bloody hope not

It’s become a signifier of being well off…. Either you’re on constant holidays or can afford it 🙄

vaping is see as being a bit tacky where I am. “Adults with dummies” etc: I actually think it smell worse

ideally none of it would exist!!

My son has unfortunately picked up the habit. I’m gutted really. My parents were heavy smokers, and our house absolutely stank. I feel like my son had the benefit of a smoke free home, so really has no idea how revolting it is to live with smokers. I’m hoping it’s a phase.

The leading cause of death in the UK is dementia and Alzheimers, which is not a smoking-related illness. I would rather die of any illness than that, smoking-related or not.

I’ve noticed this too!!

Definitely not cool.
But, I've noticed smoking seems to be everywhere again.

I was sitting outside in Canary wharf recently and yes, i was really shocked at how many people, young and older, male and female, were smoking.
I'm sure it wasn't like this a few years ago, especially given it's a very smart place.

Everyone outside in London seems to be smoking. Noticed it increasing after covid.

Been a few articles about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8dy5v1kpno

Maybe it's part of a 'generational' thing whereby the youngsters of any generation do their best to piss off the generation before them (ie: their parents).

Smoking hugely increases your risk of dementia, surely you know this!!!

I think this is it. Appetite suppression for the young ones who can’t access Fat Jabs.

It’s awful. I really hoped it was on its way out for good. DC is a gym bunny and hates the very idea of it but I did notice more girls standing around smoking in small groups around his Uni area when I last visited.

Hopefully they will give up soon with the prices!

I’d hope not it smells and is atrocious. I haven’t ever smoked or vaped though.

Everyone I know who has succumbed to it was a non-smoker. The only people in my family who escaped it were smokers who died in their 70s. Live to 80 with my family's genes and dementia will get you, so your reasonably healthy body is no use to you anymore. No thank you.

Theres between a 30-50% increase in the risk of developing dementia for smokers

Not great odds

Your post is akin to 'my grandad smoked a pipe until he was 110 and never got ill'

Im not sure the argument that dying younger is the best recipe for avoiding dementia is a good one. Lifestyle factors are hugely significant for dementia. Unfortunately for me.

I can't say that I have noticed an increase in smoking TBH.

I tend to socialise where you can't smoke anyway, and none of my friends smoke. I think only one of DD's friends smokes.

Films and dramas still can't seem to let go of using smoking as an easy trope to indicate "cool and rebel". At least have them vaping instead, lol.

God knows society needs the tax take from it though

I really hope not there’s nothing on trend as getting smoking related diseases..as an ex smoker who smoked for 11 years I do worry about the damage I did I started at about 12 and stopped at 23.
Two years ago I was an inpatient in hospital and the lady next to me had emphysema she was told she had to go on oxygen which completely stressed her out she told the doctor she’d stop smoking and he told her it was too late …cancer and respiratory diseases should be enough to put anyone off smoking or vaping

Sometimes I wish I'd smoked as it may mean not living long enough to get dementia...😮

Yes, I remember back in my skinny days when a black coffee and a cigarette was a satisfying breakfast. I wouldn't take it up again though.

Smoking isn’t cool. It may be becoming more common but it’s never been cool. It’s bloody stupid and ridiculously expensive. Is that the definition of cool nowadays ?

Which probably goes straight back out to treating all the problems it causes?

Well that’s the thing, I can imagine them thinking ‘It’ll never happen to me’ or ‘My grandfather smoked & he lived to be 90’.

But if smoking was generally associated with being a smelly twit then it would hopefully be less cool.

I think most would agree that smoking is not nice at all, whether you're in the vicinity or are a smoker yourself. Lots of people who smoke would love to be able to quit easily, and I do feel for them. Not so much sympathy for the current "on trend" variety of smokers though.

I know we are talking about smoking related cancers, but I don't know, cancer is everywhere now and even non smokers get lung cancer - adenocarcinoma - non small cell etc. The explosion in bowel cancers amongst younger people is unreal lately and no one really knows why, plenty of theories but nothing definite. Most of them don't smoke. Baffling.

I don’t know any smokers. We have young adult children and they don’t know any smokers. I think it’s viewed as embarrassing to smoke.