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 know several middle-aged people who smoke. A lot of young people vape. All the older people I know who used to smoke neither smoke nor vape now.

As an ex smoker I don't like the smell but vapes smell worse to me and many vapers seem to think it is okay to smoke close to others, including at cafes, station platforms and bus stops.

Champix made me suicidal, it’s a common side effect.

11oercent if the population apparently, so not many

People vape indoors so often now; I can't stand the smell. Who wants to go about smelling like bubblegum or watermelon?

You sound a bit like a typical reformed smoker. Why did you smoke before you gave up?

People smoke for one or both of the following reasons and it's no deeper than that.

1. They want to
2. They're addicted

Let's see if Mumsnet ruins my 1.2 and turns one into bullet points...

I hope you're ok. Mumsnet can be a great source of support in these situations. It may be worth starting a thread if you feel a bit wobbly. Wishing you and your kids the best

I was at one of the BST concerts a few weeks ago and noticed a lot of young people smoking. I was surprised. And as others said, smoking in the uk is really frowned on, but in many many other countries it is not, many in mainland Europe, turkey, Egypt etc.

So this is a judgey thread then.

I gave up smoking in the first lockdown but it was difficult. I honestly really dislike the attitude to smoking on MN. I think as long as someone isn’t blowing smoke in your face then just leave them the fuck alone. There’s no need for this relentless ‘oooh it’s disgusting’ sanctimonious behaviour.

I vape now and love it as much as I used to love cigarettes

It 's much easier to steer clear of cigarette smoke these days, but I admit to disliking walking through clouds of cigarette smoke at hospital entrances and shopping mall entrances.

It's a pity these places don't provide smoking shelters some distance away from the entrance.

The people I know who smoke are either long-term addicted (some have switched to vaping) or occasional social smokers who enjoy it and don't worry about it too much. I was in the latter category until a few years ago but have knocked it on the head now.

I work with smokers. I have never smoked and I am surprised by how many people still do.
One of the people I work with smokes around 40 a day -- I can't even imagine how much that costs. And she stinks of smoke, but obviously very unaware of it.

I was in Spain recently and I was surprised just how many people smoke there. Like someone else said, ashtrays on tables etc, something that we don't see here anymore.

I was really surprised when I was at a large outdoor music gig and there were quite a number of young people smoking cigarettes.

i don’t know why. Maybe it’s cool and retro for them?

I'm seeing more people smoking cigarettes in our workplace smoking spot than a year ago, when it was 90% vapes. I'd say now it's more 60% vapes.

I like smoking, I don’t do it that much, not daily unless I’m on holiday where I’ll sometimes have one a day as a treat. Generally I’ll have one every 2-3 days, I’ll smoke a bit more on a night out sometimes. I don’t smoke at all when our children are babies as it’s a faff getting changed etc afterwards.

Because they want to, or because it's an addiction. If you don't understand it, that's fine, but you won't get an explanation that will,satisfy you. Same as you won't from anyone who is addicted to anything. May as well ask an over eater why they are obese, or an alcoholic why they drink. Prefer cigarettes to vapes, the amount of people,that seem to think that's safer with their being no longer term studies yet to the effect ps,bothers me, and gapers are still smoking nicotine. I don't see it as a better option

If it was that easy….

I'm an occasional smoker ( roll ups) and will go months without thinking about it . I like that it's a bit "unacceptable" and I have to sneak off anywhere that isn't a pub. I also like smoking on holiday.
I don't buy them except on holiday and trade a drink for one or two if I'm with smokers. If I bought a whole packet I smoke everyday and it takes 2 - 3 weeks to finish it.

I agree that it's the habit that's addictive rather than nicotine or whatever and that's why people vape .I hate vaping though and think it looks daft and juvenile.

This might have been true once but in the UK there days it’s truly not
I feel for people that really want to give up, but it feels frowned upon these days. People I know who smoke don’t do it in public.
It also seems more popular with the less well paid, which makes little sense given how expensive it is. I just don’t know how people afford it.

Because I'm addicted, simple as that.
I've tried previously various methods of quitting and have on occasions quit for a couple of years at a time.

My partner, late 60s, has smoked since he was 14. He is addicted and likes it. When he had flu he felt so bad he didn't want to smoke but 3 days later it was back to usual. He's a much cleaner smoker than he used to be, never indoors or in a car with anyone else, he wanders off at outdoor stuff so never puffs at anyone. I'm resigned that he'll never give up (nor wants to) as it's his choice. Perhaps the next judgey post could be why are fatties so fat when it's soooo easy to give up eating cake and crisps? No? Thought not.

I think certain groups of young people see cigarette smoking as cool/edgy. My friend's DD (19) is very sneery/snobby about people who vape but her FB posts are full of photos of her and her friends posing for photos smoking cigarettes on nights out.

What made you take it up again?

I have tried 3 times to give up

1st attempt....6 weeks into my no-smoking, BiL was killed in an horrific workplace accident

2nd attempt...got to around 4 months then me and DP were involved in a car crash (not my fault, the other driver was high on drugs).

The 3rd and last attempt was February 2020.....the year I lost both parents and my job.

I'm very reluctant to go for a 4th try.