Budget re smoking - again.

[10ClarionSt]

All kinds of comments are made about the dangers of smoking and in the previous thread on this I mentioned the historical argument. I make no apology for mentioning it again, as follows; In 1949, a govt survey found that 81% of the male population were smokers and 60% of women. My dad was a heavy smoker as was my mother. She carried three of us through pregnancy. We were born into a world of constant smoke. Everywhere we went, there were smokers. It was a time of great austerity and rationing after WW2. Poverty was rife where we lived. As infants and toddlers, we lived through the great smogs and harsh winters. Fast forward to the modern day, and we're constantly told that we were the lucky generation; that we will live longer than any previous generation and become a burden on the health and pensions systems. If smoking and poor lifestyle are so bad, were so bad, where is the legacy of them? What harm did it do if we are so healthy now? Has anyone got an answer to this? Passive smoking? We lived with it all our lives. It does no harm. The proof is all around you - us.

[Sqad]

I don't know where to start 101.....or how indepth I should go into the subject and I am not sure what questions you want answering........but here goes.

"DO FAGS KILL?"

Yes is the answer.

about 1950 two eminent medical epidemiologists Doll and Hill in an article in the Lancet showed the connection between lung cancer and smoking.
In 1948 (roughly) twice as many men smoked as women....70 % men 40%women and in 2007 it was just about equal 20% men and 20% women...roughly.
In that time, the incidence of lung cancer has fallen in men by about 50% and oddly has slightly increased in women.

Does smoking cause cancer of the lung....NO. Are you at an increased risk of developing lung cancer as a smoker??'too bloody right you are.

I have not mentioned vascular disease, bronchitis and other smoke related diseases as it would take too long.

Have I missed the point of your post?

[tenrec]

Unfortunately the truth is not all around me as some of my relatives have already died from the result of years of smoking. I would suggest you are one of the lucky ones, as was my Grandad who smoked Woodbine all his life and lived to a ripe old age!

[craft1948]

Must admit my grandad smoked Woodbines from being 14 and he died in his 80's..............from an accident.

[woofgang]

passive smoking? Roy Castle.

[Sqad]

\\\\Yes, you've missed the point of my post, it being that people like you squad are prepared to believe all the hype about smoking but refuse to look at the proof, as stated above.\\\

OK....you have your opinion.......and I have mine.

No "evidence" will satisfy you ...I fear.

[gingejbee]

Isn't there a saying "none so blind as those who won't see"? OP has made up his mind (from his "evidence"). Leave him to it.

[ojread2]

lol, actually it's people like you who try to tell those of us who know fags kill that need a huge reality check
There have been many studies, lots of research and huge amounts of NHS money spent on smoking related diseases and if you seriously believe that your anecdotal evidence is worth a jot, you really do need a kick up the jacksy

"It makes your clothes stink and can be unpleasant for others"
Unpleasant? Are you serious? 2nd hand smoke is a killer too, fact! you are a fool to believe otherwise

[craft1948]

No need to get personal oj..............

[ojread2]

nothing personal, you and in a general you

[ojread2]

as in*

but seriously???

[mrs_overall]

We all know someone who smoked 80 Capstan full strength from the age of 5 and who died peacefully in their sleep age 99.
i bet we all know someone who died from a smoking related illness as well

[factor-fiction]

I would guess that most of those smoking in 1949 would already have died. I'm also pretty sure that on average those who were smoking died earlier than those who didn't smoke. Yes, on the whole we are living longer due to other factors- and because future generations tend to smoke less

[craft1948]

I've smoked from the age of 12...............and I'm extremely glad my daughter doesn't smoke.

[Canary42]

So, the fact that there are still some smokers around proves smoking doesn't kill ?

Dodgy logic if ever there was.

[Everhelpful]

10Clarion St,I am on your side,I would guess as many people die from drink,but you never see any hoardings at the Drinks Departments as you see at the Cigarette Kiosks,Double Standards,plus where are the Govt. going to get the money lost from Cig Tax? Oh of course,higher taxation.

[237SJ]

I can`t see the analogy between drink and cigarettes. The fact is, there are safe limits of drinking but there aren`t really any safe limits of smoking. It`s always bad for you.

[whiskeryron]

Right ! Let me tell you about Smoking. In 1992 I discovered that I had great difficulty in walking, I reported to my GP who sent me to hospital for tests, it was discovered that I had Furred up Femoral Arteries, the right side being particularly bad. I had to have an Angioplasty performed on the right Femoral which involved shoving a wire down the Artery & opening an umbrella to clear a path for the blood flow. I was informed that it had been caught just in time & if I had left it much longer it would have meant Amputation. I was left in no doubt of the cause of my problem, SMOKING. The next day I had developed severe Arrhythmia & I was black from my waist to my knees with blood accumulated under the skin, the hospital made several attempts to correct the Heart rhythm to no avail & I developed Atrial Fibrillation,which I have to this day. I must tell you that I stopped smoking immediately when I was informed that my legs were in jeopardy. I'm sorry to have gone on at great length but if I can stop only 1 person from this dreadful poison it will all have been worth it.

W Ron.

[commoner]

The truth is all around us ok..but only if you walk through your local cemetery.and the ones you find in the hospitals and hospices or see hacking up over somebody's garden wall in a morning. Smoking addicts see only what proof they want to see...to satisfy themselves that what they are doing to their bodies is somehow Aok.
Just my opinion...

[chaptazbru]

Surely it's a fact that some people smoke for years and years and never have any problems and others do. Why this is I don't know. I have several relatives who smoked (now dead through old age, not smoke related) and others still alive with no health problems at all. Is it the luck of the draw? I've never smoked and never had any desire to.