Down To The Hard Core Now....

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22567778
Numbers of smokers seem to be stubbornly fixed, are we now down to the hard core that only extreme measures would effect. What measures do you think would reduce smoking further?

[MadMen]

Cazz, I thought the same thing.

Bazile, do you drink?

[LazyGun]

Were they, hypothetically, to attempt to make it illegal - thats when I would start smoking again :)

They are better off following the same programme they have in place now - education, restrictions on where you can smoke, and a duty escalator...

[tamborine]

I see peeps globally smoking happily & healthily; lots older than me. Am not fighting to prolong my life neither am I on any pills, overweight but reasonably with a happy outlook.

Leave me be with my few pleasures left.

[cazzz1975]

I think more should be done to deter youngsters from taking up the habit rather than browbeating older people.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm not keen on supporting tax rises to encourage citizen's behaviour (in fact I'm not that keen on the government thinking it should manipulate folk anyway) but that said; I do note that the average cost of a fag is just about 38p, and compare that to say the average cost of a half pint of beer which is more like 150p. Seems to me fags are dirt cheap and always have been.
Tell me when they've reached parity.

One hopes this will die out as a younger generation has less and less pressure to start the stupid habit. Those unable to get off them will eventually depart this mortal coil anyway.

[Octavius]

AOG, no my new law would only relate to tobacco breath, otherwise it would just be silly.

[jake-the-peg]

Here's an analysis that says that currently tobacco is a net loss to the UK

http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_121.pdf

However I recognise the authors aren't exactly neutral

[tamborine]

Hopefully youngsters cant afford them but the cheaper alcohol is worse imo

[mazie]

I keep telling my Mother how bad they are for her Old_Geezer, but she's determined she's not going to quit... The Doctor has also given up asking her as well, He's told her they will shorten her life, but at 89 I don't think she's that bothered. ;o)

[mazie]

I see very few young people smoking these days which is great... Perhaps the habit will die out with the old un's

[Bazile]

MadMen

//Bazile, do you drink? //

Why do you ask ?

[anotheoldgit]

jim360

/// Just carry on the way we are going, I think. As long as people believe in personal freedom, that includes the freedom to damage their health,
apparently. ///

I wonder how many anti-smokers actually lead a healthy life style, and do nothing to damage their health or other's health, or is smoking just one of the 'follow the sheep issues' that it seems only right to join in with?

[ChillDoubt]

I do wish they'd start handing out fines to those who stand brazenly outside the hospital doors in full glare of the 'This Is A Smoke Free Site' signs, leaving their dog-ends strewn all around the entrance.

For now, they'll just have to make do with my glare of disdain!

[LazyGun]

They probably think you are deciding whether to cadge a fag or not, Chill :)

Difficult to make out disdain through the exhaled fumes anyways...

[daffy654]

LG, I have Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency which has resulted in me being more prone to lung disease, I was diagnosed with emphysema some years ago and am currently only 44 years old. I continued to smoke as I reasoned that it was too late to change my life expectancy because of all of this (I was told approximately 10 years left, that was 6 years ago). It was the cost that finally made me give up last September 30th.

[MadMen]

"MadMen
//Bazile, do you drink? //
Why do you ask ? "

You said "Imprison those who continue with this filthy habit ".

I would have thought the reason for my question was fairly obvious... :-)

[anotheoldgit]

Bazile

/// Imprison those who continue with this filthy habit ///

Along with those taking part in the filthy habit of spitting, we would not have enough jails or any football clubs.

[jim360]

AOG -- for what it's worth I remember with a bit of annoyance how a smoker at school was far more physically fit than I was! Probably still is, if it comes to that.

[anotheoldgit]

ludwig

/// They should just keep cranking up the tax. Eventually there'll be about 10 smokers left paying £1,000,000 a packet. ///

There also wouldn't be many motorists left if petrol and diesel was £1,000 a litre.

[Octavius]

"I wonder how many anti-smokers actually lead a healthy life style, and do nothing to damage their health or other's health"

Isn't that a bit like embracing the Forer effect....? I flew in an aeroplane once so I might have polluted someone somewhere sometime and put my own life at measurable risk.