When will you stop?

Question

SMOKING that is. The use of tobacco by Native Americans throughout North and South America dates back to 2000BC and Christopher Columbus brought the practice back to Europe in the 1400s. It beggars belief that this primeval practice persists today in spite of modern technology that tells us that this is a killer practice. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, an additive stimulant and euphoriant but can also cause confusion, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia and dysphoria plus everything else.

Included in the 4,000 ingredients in tobacco is:- Ammonia (household cleaner), Angelica Root Extract (known to cause cancer in animals), Arsenic (used in rat poisons), Benzene (used in making dyes & synthetic rubber), Carbon Monoxide (poisonous gas), Cadmium (used in batteries), Cyanide (deadly poison), DDT (a banned insecticide), Ethyl Furoate (causes liver damage in animals), Lead (poisonous in high doses), Formaldehiyde (used to preserve dead specimens), Methyl isocyanate ( it’s accidental release killed 2,000 people in Bhopal, India, in 1984) and Polonium (cancer-causing radioactive element).
Now a pub landlord wants to fight our non-smoking ban in the European Court of Human Rights (he must be cuckoo). Surely he must be aware that over 57 countries have some ban, complete or partial bans in place (so most of the world must be wrong!). A ban is coming into effect in France from 1st January 2008 to complete Europe’s ban.

Queensland, Australia, has the strictest laws, which includes their beaches! True!
Psychological dependency on smoking is far greater than the physical dependency so it is very easy to quit once the decision is made. It is useless to think that later you will find a programme to address the problem because Nicotine Replacement Therapy, gums, patches etc is a misnomer, just another money-spinner for the pharmaceutical industry. The longer you continue the more difficult it will be to stop. So, don’t you smokers even feel a little silly standing on the pavement outside shops, factories or offices smoking? I did smoke cigarettes for 3 or 4 years some time ago but threw half a packet away and not touched one since, after I decided I’d rather feel healthy.
See: “An Open Letter to Tony Blair” dated 27 November 2006.
http://allencarr.com/central/article/101/an-open-letter-to-tony-blair-from-allen-carr

My apologies to a special lady.

edit: good to hear Mossy Jan, Nicknak, Charlie L and Sasha

edit: Underground Man: I just asked a question and backed it up with a reason. It has been made news again recently.

edit: shadysba, did you know that smoking can also make you go blind - no wonder you're wearing those glasses.

edit: claire y, I don't wont to stop anyone doing anything, I just care about my friends who smoke.

edit: paul d, good for you, that means that I wont have to pay so much tax.

edit: jonquilb, thank you, good luck.

edit: phlada64, good on yer! unfortunately life is not a dress rehearsal and to me health is the most important comodity we can have in life.

edit: Red_Chrome, brilliant answer - thanks. and thank you for the star.

edit: shadysback, sorry, thank you for the star. But if you didn't read my post then you wont be reading this either!!

Answer 1

I appreciate the time it took you to post this for us. As a smoker I know that what you are saying is right and you have posted it with the best of intentions. It has made me think. Although smokers do know of the dangers, for someone to set it out like that, it does make me consider...hmm...maybe I will have to get into the right mindset, and stop.

Answer 2

Good question. I never have smoked, but 3 of my 4 children did smoke. One has stopped altogether and the other 2 keep trying to stop. I'll probaly die from second hand smoke, because I have a neighbor who doesnt want to get her house all smelly, so she stands underneath my window to smoke. In summer I can keep the windows closed and use the a/c, but today, it's a beautiful sunny day, and I like to have the window open to enjoy the breeze. The breeze periodically smells like cigarettes. If I ask the lady to step away from the window, she tells me to shut it-the window and my mouth. Such is life in the big city.

Answer 3

You've got to love it when an ex-smoker gets on his soap box.
Why do you think the Government hasn't banned smoking all together? Could it be something to do with the £10 billion it gets in excise duty and VAT?
To answer your question, I'm not going to give up.

Answer 4

if ppl want to smoke let them. we all know the risks. are you going to stop sitting on your settee because if contains formaldehyde ?? probably not. if we all gave up smoking tommorrow and as non smokers all lived 20 yrs longer, think of the terrible drain these ppl would be on our economy not to mention all the lost taxes. cancers and aids are natures way of keeping the population down, we're all going out the same way, short of breath !

Answer 5

im an ex smoker and i love being clean . i dont stink anymore. i can run walk climb stairs, swim . in fact i can do anything i want .anyone that smokes will not listen to you.they convince themselves that they enjoy that dreadful addiction. they wont change. but well done for trying.

Answer 6

I always have a cigarette after sex. If I quit smoking will I have to stop having sex. I really enjoy smoking. To tell the truth it's the only reason I have sex.

Answer 7

I've quit, packed them up 2 weeks ago, doing fine...

Edit: Having a drink now, friends coming over could be different tomorrow (lol)

Answer 8

I do not have to stop smoking since I have never started smoking in the first place! =)

Answer 9

I'll stop when I feel like it

no amount of ad campaigns or loonies telling me the dangers will make me stop unless I want to

brb Im going for a ciggie

Answer 10

I will stop when I am ready, I don't smoke in my home or around my child so no one has the right to lecture me.