Only a bit, maybe one or two a week if I was lucky (should that be unlucky?) I was strictly ‘other peoples’ in what brand I smoked.
Once I was 18 and living outside of home I occasionally bought my own cigarettes. I still rarely smoked more than one or two a week, mostly I smoked when friends did on a Friday or a Saturday night. Peer pressure, yep, it was both big and clever. But it was also ‘cool’.
I usually smoked exotic and enticing brands like Black Russians, More Menthol or Multicoloured cocktail cigarettes with gold coloured filters ...it was all about the glamour. Packaging and presentation had a direct effect on whether I would buy a brand, I was beyond excited to discover a brand called DEATH that was sold in Brighton that came in a suave black coffin shaped box, too naïve, and too stupid to care about the irony it was quickly my favourite.
I never became addicted to cigarettes, I never smoked more than a couple a week and after the age of 24 rarely smoked at all. I haven’t smoked now in over 20 years.
I wish smoking wasn’t cool. A smoking ban in public venues has done a lot to stop smokers, it is not so chic to huddle out in the rain to catch a quick puff. Lack of advertising has also helped to stop children and young adults starting the habit and of course you now need to be 18 to even begin. But I think another great preventative would be plain boring non-trendy packaging (think the classic TESCO VALUE campaign!) which is why I’d be happy to see all cigarettes sold in plain white cartons.
I know all the arguments about cigarette taxes helping the country. I’ve heard things in favour of an outright ban (I’m not in favour mainly as it would only serve to make it cooler!) I think the best way to ensure that less people risk their health is to make smoking a real decision, based on proper information and not ‘oooh look – how cool is that packet!’ or ‘how handsome is that cowboy smoking!’
Protect our children. Visit the Plain Packaging Campaign for more information and to pledge your support.
Do you smoke? Do you wish you could give up or are you happy to smoke? How long have you smoked? Do you think branding played a part in your decision? I’d love to know!
I thought that this was already a done deal? Obviously not. I shall retweet.
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
DeleteI started smoking at 17. The packaging had no influence on my decision to start. It was more of an 'in' to chat up the sexy girls who smoked.
ReplyDeleteThe brand I chose was influenced by the price (not too cheap and not the expensive ones), and the promotional vouchers you could collect to get free stuff. I was never pressured directly by peers but was seduced by the perceived lifestyle.
Maybe I was just too much of a vain girlie :-) (I smoked so few that price was never an issue for me)
Deletebear in mind I'm an accountant now so the bottom line is always a key factor.
DeleteI too smoked from being 14, because at that time it was the rebellious thing to do, packaging for me initially wasn't an issue. First I smoked the cheap and ubiquitous No.6, then during my New Romantic/punk period the weird and wonderful,(packing/image then became important) menthol, Gitanes, Gauloises and anything else I could get my hands on. I then moved to roll-ups and they became the smoke of choice for a while before I "stopped" smoking and had mini cigars instead.
ReplyDeleteI/We finally stopped for good when Mrs OOK was pregnant with our first child. She's now 25 and I've not touched a cigarette in that time.
There is no doubt its a mugs game, it killed my Dad, my Grandad and my Mum's sister panifully and horribly.
This is a great campaign and well worth supporting.
Thanks for you comment. I'm glad you were able to give up. I agree that the teen years are the 'brand conscious' ones.
DeleteMy husband used to smoke 40 a day, he gave up 20 years ago but still had to have a triple heart bypass recently due to damage the smoking had done.
Gosh, I feel old, I smoked the same brand as my parents, they gave them to me! This was way before the general public knew the dangers. By the time I was 17 I smoked 20 a day, "Guards" were my favourite by then, they were not too expensive, tasted good and gave a good Nicotine hit. My Mother-in-law rolled her own, she died of lung cancer at the age of 62. My Mum and I decided to quit, we just stopped, no patches or other helps in those days. Neither of us ever smoked again. My husbands experience with smoking were very similar to Tattoed Mummy's so he was pleased when I gave it up and neither of our children or their partners smoke and I just hope that my grand children aren't tempted.
ReplyDeleteI've smoked since I was 13/14. The funny thing is, I always knew I was going to smoke. Aged 4, I used to roll up tubes of paper, fill them with talc and blow out the "smoke." BUT - nobody in my family smoked. Nobody around me smoked. The only people I saw who smoked were in the 1940s/50s films I watched. This was in the 80s, so people smoked on TV but not much. I genuinely don't know why I started. All I know is that when, as an 11 year old, my little friends were avowing that they would would never ever EVER smoke, I was always waiting to start, just as I was waiting to start clubbing and drinking. As for the fags themselve; I smoked whatever I could get my hands on until I was 17 when I began on roll ups. But mainly the cheapest - Mayfair, mainly. I smoked about 40 a day for a few years, with the occasional 60 a day. Which is quite a lot, I admit :) Now I smoke maybe 3 a day - if I'm drinking maybe six or seven at most. I doubt I'll ever stop. I only cut down because my bf doesn't smoke.
ReplyDeleteAs for the glamour and branding question, I will say that certain brands have certain associations; Marlboro Red are prison fags, Lucky Strikes are US army fags, Marlboro lights are for London Media types etc etc. I'm not sure that changing the packaging will stop this - people will just start using cigarette cases and buying duty free.
I've smoked since I was 15. None of my friends smoked then, and very few smoke now. All of my family are heavy smokers, I only go through maybe 5 or 6 a day but thats still a lot. I dont smoke around B - even in the same building as him, and I'm quite strict that no one else does too. But I am wabting to quit. There is a history of weak hearts and lung cancer passed down through my family, and I dont want to succumb to it. So by the end of the summer I aim to have stopped completely :) I smoke menthols, packaging has never had and does not have any effect on me!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! I have two little girls and i really hope they dont smoke when they are older!i say bring onthe boring packets!
ReplyDeleteI started smoking about 17/18 and it was to fit it and to have something to do when I was nervous in social situations, such as down the pub. I liked Marlboro Reds, HATED B&H with a passion, menthol were DISGUSTING, cheep Camel's were ok but rough as, well, a camel's arse and I ADORED Black Russians when I could afford them. I basically smoked the odd one at the pub. Tried smoking on my in the park, did nothing for me - it was basically a social crutch.
ReplyDeleteThen when I took up with my now husband, he did smoke - rollups mostly as that was cheaper - and I started smoking one before bed and one in the morning with him, either a bought fag or a roll up. What's the roll up baccy that comes in a green packet with gold writing, I can't now remember? Gold leaf? I liked the mesmeric quality of the smoke, and the ritual of it.
Before I got properly addicted, I became pregnant, so gave up straight away - thankfully it was easy, I don't remember any side effects or withdrawal at all, but then I was slightly distracted at the time!
Once Saurus was born, hubby never smoked in or near the house again - only at work or pub or other's houses. After we married and I got pregnant again, he gave up - just like that! It did take some effort on his part and wasn't easy, but he did it and I've always been incredibly grateful. You see, you're not just subjecting those around you to passive smoking when you're actually smoking, you're breathing out accumulated toxins even when you're NOT smoking.
My father started smoking at 14, when he left school and started work. He smoked cigarettes and a pipe but I only have a vague memory of him smoking cigarettes as he gave those up at some point. He smoked a pipe which smelt delicious, he liked three nuns tobacco I remember, he moved onto that from old navy & gold block. I very rarely encounter a pipe smoker now, and when I do I always get a jolt of nostalgia! Unlike cigarette smoke which smells (to me) ghastly, pipe tobacco smells gorgeous in my opinion.
When I was young teenager, so he must have been in his 70's, he was told by his Dr that he really had to give up smoking altoghether - so he did. Just like that. He was a little more grumpy than usual for a while, but he never smoked again as far as I'm aware - pretty impressive after 60 odd years of smoking!
My mum, as far as I'm aware, has never smoked.
I was the kind of kid who did anything to be popular. But was saved from smoking by a mum and granddad who blew so much smoke in my face when I was a kid that I literally puked.
ReplyDeleteEver since the idea of trying it makes me physically retch. But I've got plenty of friends who have smoked. Most gave it up by their 30s for health reasons.
Couldn't agree more with this, and will sign petition.
Supported Cancer Research UK's campaign to do the same thing...http://www.mummycentral.com/2012/05/02/the-answer-is-plain/
Shocking to think kids can be turned by a pretty/cool-looking packet.