Cigarettes are the product of The Devil
Friday, February 08, 2008
I'm sick of seeing 'quit smoking' adverts all over the place. TV, Newspapers, magazines and on public transport.
I know and respect that there are people who do want to quit, who do need help and who will probably gain from having this kind of media thrusted unceremoniously 'all up in their grill', but how about those of us who like being smelly, having yellow parts and shortening our life-span?
I've been a smoker since I was 14 years old (I'm 22 at the moment) and have "given up" four times. Three of those times it was for financial reasons, the last time was just to see if I could and to see if I could make myself healthier (read: New Years resolution that, like so many, didn't last long).
The longest I managed to fight the addiction was 1 month and 4 days, not at all impressive by some peoples standards, but for me that was quite an achievement.
The problem is I really love smoking. I know what it's doing to me, I know I'd probably have a nice flat and no debts if I quit; but I still can't give it up. I know 90% of the addiction is psychological. I'm not going to list the reasons why I smoke and why I started because that will just lead to someone emailing me with a counter-offensive.
On March 26th 2006 the United Kingdom introduced 'the smoking ban'.
Starting in Scotland on that date it became illegal to smoke in an enclosed space and in pubs, restaurants and clubs. The rest of the countries that make up Great Britain all, eventually (after the initial 'trial run' in Scotland and Ireland), became "Smoke-Free" ending with England on July 1st 2007.
It's the last one that affects me (being English) and I have to say it has been a minor inconvenience. In the summer, when it first came into play, I wasn't that bothered. It was reasonably nice weather. Now, it's winter and no pub that I go to has a decent way of keeping you warm in the harshness of the weather. Those heat-lamps don't work at all!
So, like many, I'm 50-50 on the ban: good in summer, bad in winter!
I do agree that sitting in a smokey pub or restaurant for a non-smoker is...unpleasant to say the least. Subjecting someone to endure my filthy habit is unfair; but sending us out in to the cold is inhumane!
The amount of times that I've been ill over the winter this year [so far] has been more than last year. I put that down to the July 1st ban.
On October 1st 2007 the government raised the legal age for cigarettes to be purchased from 16 to 18. Not something that affects me but I do think that was a smart move and one cigarette related ruling put in place last year that I do agree with. It's not because I'm old enough to do everything in this country now (except go to an over 25's bar, which are quite rare) but, and this makes me sound old, things were different when I started smoking.
My sister, who turned 16 in August, has asthma and I often wonder if she didn't whether or not she would start smoking. She's very intelligent though, so I doubt she would.
I do have one anti-smoking related hate though: Cigars. I hate the smell of someone smoking a cigar. Vile. Although it is hypocritical (and I freely admit this) I will smoke a cigar if something is being celebrated. It's like drinking Champagne, really. But to smoke them regularly for the nicotine I don't like the idea of.
OK, that's that done. Time for a fag.
1 Comments
I know and respect that there are people who do want to quit, who do need help and who will probably gain from having this kind of media thrusted unceremoniously 'all up in their grill', but how about those of us who like being smelly, having yellow parts and shortening our life-span?
I've been a smoker since I was 14 years old (I'm 22 at the moment) and have "given up" four times. Three of those times it was for financial reasons, the last time was just to see if I could and to see if I could make myself healthier (read: New Years resolution that, like so many, didn't last long).
The longest I managed to fight the addiction was 1 month and 4 days, not at all impressive by some peoples standards, but for me that was quite an achievement.
The problem is I really love smoking. I know what it's doing to me, I know I'd probably have a nice flat and no debts if I quit; but I still can't give it up. I know 90% of the addiction is psychological. I'm not going to list the reasons why I smoke and why I started because that will just lead to someone emailing me with a counter-offensive.
On March 26th 2006 the United Kingdom introduced 'the smoking ban'.
Starting in Scotland on that date it became illegal to smoke in an enclosed space and in pubs, restaurants and clubs. The rest of the countries that make up Great Britain all, eventually (after the initial 'trial run' in Scotland and Ireland), became "Smoke-Free" ending with England on July 1st 2007.
It's the last one that affects me (being English) and I have to say it has been a minor inconvenience. In the summer, when it first came into play, I wasn't that bothered. It was reasonably nice weather. Now, it's winter and no pub that I go to has a decent way of keeping you warm in the harshness of the weather. Those heat-lamps don't work at all!
So, like many, I'm 50-50 on the ban: good in summer, bad in winter!
I do agree that sitting in a smokey pub or restaurant for a non-smoker is...unpleasant to say the least. Subjecting someone to endure my filthy habit is unfair; but sending us out in to the cold is inhumane!
The amount of times that I've been ill over the winter this year [so far] has been more than last year. I put that down to the July 1st ban.
On October 1st 2007 the government raised the legal age for cigarettes to be purchased from 16 to 18. Not something that affects me but I do think that was a smart move and one cigarette related ruling put in place last year that I do agree with. It's not because I'm old enough to do everything in this country now (except go to an over 25's bar, which are quite rare) but, and this makes me sound old, things were different when I started smoking.
My sister, who turned 16 in August, has asthma and I often wonder if she didn't whether or not she would start smoking. She's very intelligent though, so I doubt she would.
I do have one anti-smoking related hate though: Cigars. I hate the smell of someone smoking a cigar. Vile. Although it is hypocritical (and I freely admit this) I will smoke a cigar if something is being celebrated. It's like drinking Champagne, really. But to smoke them regularly for the nicotine I don't like the idea of.
OK, that's that done. Time for a fag.
Labels: habit, quitting smoking, smoking, smoking ban
Published by Simon Clauson at 1:30 pm.1 Comments
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Despite being very broadly defined as a non-smoker, there are some things about smoking that I like.
I like;
The smell of tobacco (especially cigars) mingled with leather... like the smell of old smoke on a leather jacket. It reminds me of some forgotten relative (possibly my granddad?), and it's very comforting and nice.
Similarly- the smell of tobacco mingled with the smell of Hugo Boss aftershave. That just reminds me of being young, first love and all that.
Other than these small emotional attachments, I would happily see the back of cancer sticks.
Not least of all because I am an infernal worrier, and I can't help imagining a future in which the consequences of over 90% of my friends smoking most of their lives has to be addressed.
Innit.
Love yooooou.
xx xen