A Question For Smokers, Please...

[mrs.chappie]

I was in a 3-hour lecture yesterday, along with 9 others. Half way through, one of the ladies asked to be excused. She grabbed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from her bag and dashed out.

Within 3 or 4 minutes, she was back in the room. We were in a huge medical centre and getting out and back into the building would’ve taken her about a minute or so each way, so I reckon she must’ve grabbed a few quick puffs, before rushing back to the class.

I’m not questioning the rights and wrongs of smoking – that has been done over and over. I’m just wondering how long (roughly) you, as a smoker, can hold off before the urge gets too much.

Thanks for any replies, peeps. x

[mazie]

When we drive to Scotland about 4 hours....but I want one long before that

[society]

Mrs. Chappie, AB is a smoking free zone. :)

[mazie]

I'm just nipping out for a fag ;o)

[Nini74]

as with most things - everyone is different, and much depends on what you're used to. I can't smoke in work so its easy for me to go 4 or more hours without one, just because that's what I'm used to. Other people who can go for a cigarette break whenever they want would probably struggle for anything longer than an hour or two.

[Iluvspikey]

23 years and still counting!

[baza]

Only a few minutes if it's after nookie!

[4getmenot]

when i smoked, i could have lasted the 3hrs as i would have been occupied with lecture. Really would depend what i was doing. Was more habit with me. Wasnt a withdrawel issue.

[Jeza]

I smoke and if necessary can go as long as it takes, When we flew to Jamaica and were delayed for several hours I would have killed for a fag. When we landed the airport was full of drug pedalling people, offering every drug on the planet. It made me think wanting a smoke was not that bad.

[Prudie]

Yes it depends, in a normal pattern then 3 hours might be a struggle but on a 10 hour flight for example it probably wouldn't bother me. Might be worth bearing in mind that some people feel trapped in meetings and lectures and use a smoke break as a reason to get out - or maybe she needed to break wind:-)

[paddywak]

Since I packed in (1971) I've often thought it funny that I'd work down the pit for anything between 7-12 hours where even then it was against the law and instant dismissal to even take cigarettes and a light into the pit let alone smoke them, and I'd never even think about a smoke. At the end of the shift I'd get half way up the shaft and it was like a switch clicked over and by the time we got to the top I'd have killed for a smoke.

[chrissa1]

Well, put it this way. I will never fly to Australia.

[joggerjayne]

One of my drinking pals can go without a cigarette until you put a glass of wine in her hand, and then she's like Usain Bolt in a wig sprinting for the beer garden.

[Sir Alec]

I agree with JJ, all the smokers I know smoke at least twice as much when they drink.

[China Doll]

I can fly to Australia and not light a ciggie til I've been met, greeted, taken the half an hour trip back to where I'm staying, given the tour, settled in, called the parents and had a cuppa and a chat... all without becoming desperate although quite fancying one (and some peace!) In a normal day I can go til well in the late afternoon if I want to or am stuck in meetings... but it's not my preferred choice! I generally have my first ciggie about half ten in the morning.

[Meg]

If "needs must" I can last without a fag, spending time with mother in hospital I was gasping for a cig, couldn't have one, she could smell smoke at 50 paces!!

I was 50 and still hid smoking from Mum!!

[RATTER15]

When I was a smoker, It would really depend on the situation as to how long I could go without a fag, When I was in hospital for 5 days it hardly occurred to me to smoke but on the way out of hospital I was gagging at the bit for a ciggy, if I was in a restaurant I could wait until we left without having to go outside for a puff, Where I had more control of the situation I would gag quicker and need to go out sooner, just because I knew I could. I did smoke 50 a day so a heavy smoker.

[andy-hughes]

Whenever I head out of my building for lunch, or back in again after, there are people huddling in the cold smoking - they really suffer for their habit!

[mrs.chappie]

Some interesting replies there. Thanks peeps.

Lol @ Meg, hiding smoking from her mum. My mum was quite the opposite. She'd smoked all her adult life and couldn't understand why I didn't want to try it.

[Hopkirk]

You've got to be mad to smoke.

Ravin' mad!

[craft1948]

lol @ Hopkirk, it's amazing the amount of very clever people who do smoke.