Does anyone smoke anymore? And if so why?

[Beanscene]

This is not aiming to lecture or judge anyone who smokes cigarettes (not vaping) as yous are all grown ups and know about the effects of smoking etc...but I genuinely don't know anyone who smokes cigarettes anymore ...I know a lot of people who vape instead. Wondering why people still smoke in this day and age? as it's also ££££, unhealthy blah blah.....

I'll also add that I used to smoke years ago in my early 20s although back then most people did

Surely the answer to this is just ‘because I’m addicted’?

I know a few and it's because they are addicted

But there's all sorts of ways to give up... literally loads of methods to help people give up and replace the nicotine

Yes, but if giving up an addiction was as simple as just knowing it’s bad for you and accessing the help, addiction wouldn’t be a problem for anyone at all.

But there's all sorts of ways to give up... literally loads of methods to help people give up and replace the nicotine

And those that I know who smoke have tried them all.

It took me 25 years of trying to be successful.

Most people I know who vape, smoked first, and curbed their addiction by creating a new addiction to vaping.

Yep me and DH smoke, we smoke rollies and I can go days without and pop out for a drink and have a few. He has about 4-6 a day.

For me it's just a habit, not addiction I've gone years being a non smoker, I enjoy the feel of smoking.

We are a minority in our friendship group 50s, but I really don't mind it's something we don't give much thought about.

I smoked for 30 years, from age 14 to 44, and gave up using a NHS quit smoking scheme - patches, Nicorettes. I was amazed at how easy it turned out to be. Smoke free for 18 months now, and never wanted to smoke again. The disgusting smell is enough to stop me.

I do understand the addiction side of it when I gave up I used the wee lozenges which helped .... although I was on them for years 🤣 before I stopped using them.

Well done 👍 and I agree about the smell ....can't stand it anymore

@startstopengine

it's something we don't give much thought about.

I was like that until asthma and signs of COPD made me think. Plus an uncle that died of emphysema. Aged 68. But everyone's different, so please don't think I'm preaching at you.

Loads of young people still smoke cigarettes. I work in a huge shared office building and the call centre company staff are out there littering cigarettes every breaktime.

Don't want to get preachy here either but one of the reasons I gave up was because my dad died from lung cancer

Possibly due to the success of 200+ years of successful marketing of a very dangerous, addictive DRUG.

I stopped smoking regularly years ago (luckily as I was pregnant a few months after I stopped!). I now have one on special occasions, maybe one on holiday, or very occasionally if I am out with a friend who still smokes (not every time, just if I fancy it). This probably adds up to 5 cigarettes a year. I still enjoy it, but don’t do it regularly anymore as I know how bad it is for you.

Smoking is very pleasurable. I smoked for 15 years and got a lot of enjoyment out of it. It's also extremely hard to give up. I went through horrendous cravings for five years before I could let go. Not everyone finds it easy to stop.

Currently on holiday in France and really noticed the difference in the number of smokers here compared to UK. Ashtrays on all tables, most people it seems are smokers.

Yes ... definitely in other countries there's loads of people who smoke

I do. I did when I was young that stopped when I got pregnant with my first.

It's been a man honest to god nightmare few years, trauma of every kind, and I started again. At points I couldn't eat or sleep and so smoking is what I did as a distraction.

Unfortunately, I fucking love it. I'm in my garden right now in silence, with a coffee and a cigarette. It's the most beautiful part of my day.

I know it's awful and that I need to stop.

I stopped for seven years, but I craved cigarettes the entire time so I started again about 4 years ago. I’m on about 5 a day instead of the 20 a day I smoked for years. I’m planning on stopping again but I’m trying to lose weight and want to get to my target first.

I 'forgot' (if that's the right word) to mention that my mother died of lung cancer aged 45. I go for annual scans on the NHS.

Since I gave up I've got a much increased appetite, not surprising considering my senses of taste and smell are now amazingly better, and I and finding it hard to resist the urge to snack on things like salted peanuts, Bombay Mix, etc.

Ah, les clopes !

I know very few people who smoke. Two I am close to gave up when their cancer diagnoses gave them a wake up call.

I have a family member who, despite a heart attack and a horrible smoker's cough, is so addicted that giving up seems impossible.

Smoking killed my mum (severe COPD) and I hate the smell so I never started this awful habit.

I remember the days of smoking on planes and other public transport, smoking in cinemas, eating places, workplaces and pubs and am glad that it is now banned.