Why do you hit the top of cigarette packs before you open it?

Question

I've seen people hit the top of the cigarette pack against their hand before they open it. why?

Answer 1

When cigarettes used to not be made as well, it was done to dislodge and separate the smokes, as well as tamp down any loose tobacco

Answer 2

It packs the tobacco up inside of each cigarette.

Answer 3

It's a long standing superstition, especially amongst teens, sort of like knocking on wood and saying this coffin nail won't get me! LOL

Oh sure, they'll say it is to pack the tobacco...but we all know the truth, modern machinery already has the tobacco packed properly and excessive packing just makes the cherry fall off the smoke easy to burn holes in upholstry...don't let them fool ya...it's superstition...warding off the angel of death....

LOL

Answer 4

To pack the tobacco...so the cigarette burns smoothly and evenly.

Answer 5

to pack the tobacco down into the cigarette and also cause it looks cool when you are a teen.

Answer 6

to "pack" the cigs.

tobacco is pretty tight when its rolled up as a cig but does have air space. If you don't pack them first, they burn faster, create more smoke and create loser ashes.

Packing them condenses the tobacco more, slows the burn rate and produces less smoke due to the slower burn rate.

Answer 7

It (allegedly) packs the tobacco tighter for a longer smoke.

And it just looks cool.

Answer 8

its called packing them so the tobbacco goes down into it tightly and fits more is more secure in the paper tubes against the filter. it burns quicker and doesn't go out constantly

Answer 9

it to remind us of the cancer that we are taking in

Answer 10

I don't know, I don't smoke.