The truth about smoking cigarettes

Those who are born by the station on the railway of life

some way down the line will only have shortened life experiences and the

current information available to them.

 

Perhaps they should take into account the experiences of

those born 30-40 years before them. After all, history is taught at schools to

educate its pupils.

 

I began smoking as a school kid back in the 1950's. It

seemed that almost everybody smoked at that time. Purely as an illustration of

how different society was back then, racism was rife to the point that some of

the films and TV comedy series of those days will never be aired again for fear

of upsetting people. It was also illegal to be a practicing homosexual or gay as is the

present terminology.

 

Almost every film star smoked on screen. Adverts were

everywhere. Tobacco companies sponsored everything. Sailors were entitled to

duty free rations of 100's of cigarettes each month.

 

In short...it was "in yer face".

 

Most parents, just like today, told their sons and daughters

not to start smoking. Just like today, not many heed the warning. Kids like to

experiment and the more you hide things from them, the more they want it so

plain packaging probably won't stop them.

 

After 60 years of smoking, even some doctors I have spoken

to have agreed that by stopping now, it could have an adverse effect on my

health with which I have no problems with. I'm sure it is largely down to a

person's genes as there are people in their nineties still smoking and still

healthy.

 

I am however stigmatised by the younger element as if I'd

only taken up the habit last week despite all the publicity about the effects

on myself and others around me.

 

The government never really loses out on smoking related

taxes, as sales in cigarettes decline, so they reap 20% in VAT from the

numerous remedies that people buy to help them kick the habit. They also spend

huge amounts of the taxpayer's money on advertising the dangers of smoking

where it would probably be better if they said less because it keeps cigarettes

in the public eye and reminds the kids of their existence. Not everyone will

agree with that of course.

 

People have used the various expensive nicotine patches and

have successfully kicked the habit. But, hand on heart, how many can claim that

it was purely down to the patches and that they themselves had to use an awful

lot of willpower during the process. And looking back on their success, how

many might have realised that they could really have kicked the habit on

willpower alone without the help of the patches.

 

One way to put newcomers off smoking is by taking advantage

of the current economic situation. Instead of bashing on about the health

issues, just look at the costs involved.

 

A simple calculation...take the price of the average packet

of 20, assuming one packet is enough to last one day, multiply that by seven,

the number of days in the week. Multiply that by 30, the average number of days

in a month, multiply that by 12, the number of months in a year and see what

you come up with. Once hooked, there are many years ahead where you will still

be smoking, so allow for inflation as the tax on cigarettes never goes down,

allow for the inevitable increase in the number of cigarettes smoked in a day

and then project your yearly outlay.

 

I think you will find that your budget for smoking is

actually greater than a small mortgage on a modest house, or at least the difference

between affording a mortgage and not affording one.

 

The easiest way to give up smoking is never to start in the

first place. But, before hitting the red button below or adding the first

thoughts that come into your mind in the comments section, put this article in

front of your grandparents or a friend you know aged 70 or over and check it

out with them first.